I agree about Lieber DJ. I must admit, I had never heard of him prior to his season he spent with the Yankees. I just remember him mowing down the Red Sox.

As for A-Rod, we lose him we lose ANOTHER big bat in the lineup like we did with Sheffield. An analyist on ESPN (forgot which one) doesn't think he'll leave unless the Yankees win the World Series this year. He's too image conscience and if he leaves without winning one, everyone will blame him and it'd be a black mark on his record. It makes sense to me.

Lidle's widow may throw out first pitch

TAMPA, Fla. -- Melanie Lidle, the wife of the late Cory Lidle, may throw out a ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees' season opener.

Plans have not yet been finalized, though discussions are ongoing, a Yankees spokesman said.

The club's interest in honoring Lidle at the Yankee Stadium contest was first reported by The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Yankees are scheduled to open their season on April 2 against the Devil Rays.

The Yankees have announced that they will honor Lidle, who was acquired from the Phillies with outfielder Bobby Abreu on July 30, this season by wearing a black armband on the sleeves of their uniforms.

Lidle, who was 34, died Oct. 11 along with a co-pilot, Tyler Stanger, when Lidle's private plane crashed into an Upper East Side apartment building.

Lidle had been planning to fly across the country following the Yankees' elimination from the American League Division Series, and had apparently taken off on a sightseeing excursion of New York from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

Lidle was 4-3 with a 5.16 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) for New York following his midseason acquisition. Lidle pitched 277 games in the Major Leagues over nine seasons with seven different clubs, and he had a career record of 82-72.

Source: Yankees

A-rod goes deep, talks contract

SARASOTA, Fla. -- As Alex Rodriguez returned to the dugout following his first home run of the spring Thursday, manager Joe Torre pulled him aside to deliver a quick message.

"I can't guarantee you two days off before every game," Torre said he told Rodriguez.

After an excused absence from the Yankees' game against the Phillies on Tuesday, plus New York's lone off-day of the spring on Wednesday, Rodriguez returned to Grapefruit League play and delivered just his third extra-base hit of the spring, blasting a long homer off Cincinnati starter Kyle Lohse.

"I've actually enjoyed this spring," said Rodriguez, who is batting .317. "It's been good. It's gone by pretty quickly. I feel like I'm right on schedule."

Rodriguez's two days off may have been restful -- he spoke about having no greater aspirations for Wednesday than taking an hour-long nap with his daughter, Natasha -- but they weren't uneventful.

A news story surfaced Wednesday in which general manager Brian Cashman said that the Yankees are not inclined to negotiate a contract extension or restructuring with Rodriguez.

Such a deal may have circumvented a looming opt-out clause Rodriguez holds that can be triggered following the 2007 season, but the Yankees have stated they are not inclined to negotiate in-season contract extensions. In Rodriguez's case, the third baseman already holds a substantial deal that would not be renegotiated.

Earlier Thursday at Legends Field, Rodriguez told reporters that he was "not surprised" by Cashman's comments and that nothing has changed in his situation.

"It can come up every day of the year, I'm going to give you the same answers," Rodriguez said. "You guys ask the questions, I'm going to answer you the same way. It's really not a big deal."

Rodriguez batted .290 with 35 home runs and 121 RBIs last season, in what was considered by many to be an "off" year for the two-time American League Most Valuable Player.

With nine Grapefruit League exhibitions remaining on the slate, the Yankees are looking ahead to the regular season, said A-Rod.

"Regardless of how it looks now, we've got to go out there and perform and get it done on the field," Rodriguez said.

Powering up: Rodriguez wasn't the only Yankee going deep on Thursday. Right fielder Bobby Abreu homered in just his fourth at-bat of the spring, launching a three-run homer off Lohse inside the right-field foul pole. Josh Phelps added a solo shot in the seventh inning.

"That was pretty good contact [on a] ball inside, which is good," Abreu said. "Pitches inside are the ones that are going to cause me a lot of problems. Right now, I'm just more worried about reactions to balls inside."

Returning to action after a strained right oblique muscle suffered on Feb. 26 in Tampa, Abreu had served as a designated hitter for three at-bats on Tuesday. Abreu said he also had no physical problems as he returned to the outfield.

"I feel like I can move side-to-side with no problems, react with no problems, and especially throw to the bases," Abreu said. "That's a lot of progress."

Pettitte getting closer: Andy Pettitte will miss a scheduled start Friday after suffering back spasms earlier in the week, which the left-hander said have largely subsided.

But because the Yankees are counting heavily on the 34-year-old left-hander to help anchor their rotation, the club has insisted upon a cautious approach with Pettitte.

It may even be a bit too slow-moving for the hurler, who insists he is ready to resume throwing activities.

"I feel a lot better, but I forgot how little of a say you have sometimes," Pettitte said. "I'm feeling better and that's really it. Every time I tell them what I want to do, they tell me how it's going to be."

With his start Friday scratched, Pettitte will probably have just one more Grapefruit League start before he prepares to face the Devil Rays in the Yankees' first series of the year.

Torre has told Pettitte that he has looked good enough in Spring Training to make just one more tune-up start, and the numbers bear that out.

Pettitte has allowed just five hits in 10 shutout innings over three starts, walking two and striking out seven. Still, he sounded like a man who was aching to pitch on Friday.

"My Spring Training numbers have been good, but I could care less about that," Pettitte said. "It's more how I feel."

Source: Yankees

Pavano continues to show improvement

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It's been a while since the Yankees would say that Carl Pavano was being viewed as a trusted member of their rotation.

That day has finally arrived. Pavano impressed with his arm strength and grit in an 8-7 loss to the Reds on Thursday, after which manager Joe Torre said the Yankees are prepared to look to Pavano every fifth day.

"We're definitely counting on him," Torre said. "The spot was his to have, and he certainly has seized the opportunity."

Completing his fourth start of the spring for New York, Pavano allowed three runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, though his defense wasn't particularly helpful.

First baseman Jason Giambi couldn't see a pair of balls hit to his right, covering first base instead and then pointing to his chest, claiming responsibility. One of the hits was a two-run single for Cincinnati starter Kyle Lohse in the fourth inning.

"Nothing's ever going to be perfect," Pavano said. "It's a constant battle and grind. I think Spring Training is a good time to get your feet wet and your momentum going."

A good sign of Pavano's returning mound mettle came in the bottom of the first inning, when the 31-year-old right-hander looked up and saw the bases loaded with nobody out after three well-placed singles.

Spotting Cincinnati cleanup hitter Adam Dunn striding to home plate, Pavano said he was able to analyze the situation and come up with a solution.

"I'm thinking, 'Adam Dunn is up right here, and I need to get this guy out and go for the double play,'" Pavano said. "The smart way to go about it is to be willing to give up a couple of runs and don't give them a huge inning."

Pavano did better than that. Dunn flew out to right fielder Bobby Abreu, shallow enough that Ryan Freel could not tag up from third base, then Pavano induced Edwin Encarnacion to chop an inning-ending double-play ball to shortstop Derek Jeter.

As he bounded off the mound, Pavano received an assortment of fist-pounds in the Yankees' dugout, a grin quickly spreading across his face.

"What I'm feeling and seeing, and working on right now, feels like a positive," Pavano said. "We'll just go from there."

Pavano walked two and struck out two in Thursday's effort, throwing 72 pitches.

He appeared reasonably loose on the mound and even made a deft fielding play in the second inning, jumping off the mound to retire Lohse on a tapper toward third base.

"This is what we hoped we'd see," Torre said. "He certainly hasn't let us down."

Pavano could have two Grapefruit League starts remaining before the Yankees head north.

Catcher Jorge Posada said that Pavano has been shaking off signs of rust consistently, rounding into a more polished performer.

"I think he's almost there," Posada said. "He's going to feel better as he continues to go out there. The more he pitches, the better he's going to get."

There are still items that Pavano would like to tackle before reporting to Yankee Stadium.

The hurler said that he is looking forward to raising his pitch count to 100 and going deeper into games.

"I want to get to see hitters the third or fourth times through, and mix up my pitches a little more," Pavano said.

As for the regular season, if everything remains on turn, Pavano would likely see his return to a Major League mound occur against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

Asked if he has thought about what that event might hold, Pavano insisted that he is looking no further than his next bullpen session and the ensuing start.

It's worked so far, and as close as he is to erasing June 27, 2005, from consciousness, Pavano isn't in a position where he can be skipping steps.

"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself and lose what I'm trying to do now," Pavano said.

Source: Yankees

Actually, the last thing the Phillies want is another starting pitcher, especially an enigma. I think they'll trade Lieber, who's decent, for bullpen help and possibly a prospect. They're probably going to cut the best deal they can before Opening Day. Right now they have 6 solid starters.

I heard they were going to move Lieber to the bullpen

There has been some talk about it as he's the odd man out of the lineup, but I think they're looking for an experienced set up guy, who can handle a lot of appearances.

What happened to Flash? They still have him, right? As a Yankee fan, I wouldn't mind seeing Leiber back. He was an innings eater

Wang injures right hamstring

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Yankees' pitching rotation endured another scare on Friday as right-hander Chien-Ming Wang experienced discomfort in his right hamstring during conditioning drills at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla.

Wang, 27, was running lightly at the complex when he "felt something," according to general manager Brian Cashman, who relayed word of Wang's situation to reporters in Bradenton.

Speaking after the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Pirates, manager Joe Torre characterized the injury as a cramp. Wang, who was shut down for the afternoon and is expected to address reporters in Tampa on Saturday, was not sent for additional tests.

"He had a cramp, that's all I got out of it," Torre said. "I've had no emergency calls."

A candidate to pitch on Opening Day on April 2 in the Bronx, Wang was the runner-up in last season's American League Cy Young Award vote in 2006 and tied for first in the league with 19 victories.

The injury scare is the second this week for the Yankees, who also sidelined left-hander Andy Pettitte with back spasms. Pettitte felt the injury while performing squat exercises on Monday and received treatment on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old had originally been scheduled to pitch on Friday, but the southpaw instead only permitted to throw softly and stretch with the team at Legends Field.

"I'm feeling better every day," Pettitte said. "I convinced them enough where I can play light catch."

Source: Yankees

If A-Rod splits, the Yankees will be in need of a right-handed bat and could go after outfielder Andruw Jones, another Scott Boras client. -- New York Post

Source: SI

Gordon's still with the Phillies, and needs to be solid if they're going to contend.

You're right about Leiber. Guys, like him, might appear to be run of the mill, but he gives you quality innins and a chance to win.

I wish the Yankees never let Flash leave. I always liked Flash. I was SUPER pissed when I heard Boston was gonna try to get him him from the Phillies

That would be f'ing retarded. Because we don't already have a glut of outfielding talent.

Now, give me, say, Carlos Zambrano, or Miguel Cabrera? Now we're talking.

Henn pecking at Bronx's door

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Dozens of boxes packed with personal effects are lined up against an interior wall leading to the Yankees' clubhouse at Legends Field, waiting to be sent north to the Bronx.

They are an unmistakable sign that Spring Training is entering its final days. For Sean Henn, it's a foreign development.

"I've never been in camp this long," Henn said. "[I never] had to worry about shipping my car to New York or the things they're winding down camp with.

"Extra luggage? I don't know what you guys are talking about."

Henn appeared in four September games with the Yankees in 2006 after being converted from a starter to a reliever.

Last season, the southpaw commuted to Yankee Stadium by purchasing railroad tickets in upstate Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and then rode the Hudson Line for about an hour, departing at 125th Street in Harlem and switching to the subway for the final approach.

With the Yankees switching their Triple-A affiliate to Moosic, Pa., for the 2007 season, Henn is at least assured of having an automobile at his command somewhere within a 90-mile radius of the Bronx.

And with the way he's pitching, it may be more likely that Henn will scribble his name on the sign-up sheet for New York shipment.

Henn has prospered this spring, pitching six scoreless, hitless innings and picking up a victory.

"I just wanted them to see that I'm comfortable," Henn said, "and do my best to make the decision on them hard."

In his most recent appearance on Friday, Henn relieved Darrell Rasner in the fifth inning, sawed off Pittsburgh's Jason Bay and then pitched a perfect sixth. Henn completed his outing with a strikeout of Jose Castillo.

"Right now, he looks like a different animal out there," manager Joe Torre said. "He just lets the ball go. Before, it looked like he was wishing. Now, he's willing."

Henn spent most of last season at Triple-A Columbus in the International League, going 3-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 18 games (six starts).

A starter throughout his professional career, Henn had enjoyed the rhythm of pitching on a regular schedule that starters are afforded, but he said he jumped at the opportunity to become a reliever when it was explained to him.

General manager Brian Cashman and pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras reasoned that Henn, who features a fastball, a hard slider and a developing changeup in his arsenal, would be able to find a regular Major League assignment quicker out of the bullpen.

"That's all you need to hear," Henn said. "You'll do whatever to get there."

The Yankees came into camp considering Henn, who was touted repeatedly as an internal candidate by Cashman, for a roster spot. Henn's odds only seem to grow more realistic by the day.

"We never stopped looking at Sean Henn," Torre said. "He's had enough of a taste up here over the last few years. From what we saw last fall and this spring, he's much improved and seems much more relaxed."

To date, Henn's Major League statistics are underwhelming -- in seven appearances over the last two seasons, Henn is 0-4 with an 8.27 ERA. He said that the experiences compiled during his 36 days of Major League service time could help him in 2007.

"I think when you go over something time and time again, it becomes routine," Henn said. "For me to sit in the bullpen and be all wide-eyed because there's 50,000 people there, just listening to the fans and getting caught up in it ... by two or three weeks of it, it's like, 'OK, it's not a big deal anymore.'"

While Henn has done little to hurt his chances this spring, 37-year-old Ron Villone's chances of making the Opening Day squad appear to be fading.

Villone had opened eyes early in camp with higher velocity than last spring, but his outings have grown rocky as the finish line nears. In seven appearances this spring, Villone is 2-0, but he has allowed 10 hits and five runs in five innings for a 9.00 ERA.

"Initially, when I saw him throw earlier this spring, it looked like he was ahead of last year," Torre said. "But after watching [Thursday] and a couple of other outings, it looks right now like he's trying to impress by creating more velocity. It is what it is."

Henn said he was even unaware that the Yankees had inked Villone to a Minor League contract in February, relaying the surprise he felt when he walked into the clubhouse and spotted his eventual competition for the roster.

"I was shocked he was there," Henn said.

Henn said that he still considers Villone the front-runner to serve as the second left-hander behind Mike Myers in New York's bullpen.

On Day 1, Henn put himself in the mind-set of pursuing what he believed was already secured by Villone. Now that he may be pulling closer to the lead, Henn prefers to think as though he is still a step or two behind, saving one last burst for the finish.

"Because of what he's done, he's obviously the front-runner," Henn said. "You can't take that away from him. It's definitely his spot and I'm chasing it."

Source: Yankees

Murcer 'entirely clear' of brain tumor

TAMPA, Fla. -- Bobby Murcer will begin experimental cancer treatments next week after tests revealed that chemotherapy and radiation have been effective in fighting his brain tumor.

The New York Daily News reported Saturday that Murcer, 60, will undergo his first treatment on Monday at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

"I'm happy to report that the tests have shown that I'm entirely clear in regard to the tumor," Murcer told the newspaper.

"Obviously, this is encouraging news for me, although I know that we're still dealing with an incurable cancer here and just trying to contain it."

Murcer will return for additional treatments every two weeks until May. He originally had surgery on Dec. 28 to remove a malignant brain tumor after complaining of headaches and a general loss of energy.

A five-time All-Star during a Major League career that stretched from 1965-83, Murcer has been a mainstay in the Yankees' broadcast booth dating back to his retirement.

He has set his sights on returning to the team's YES Network television broadcasts at some point early in the 2007 season.

"That's what I love to do and nothing's going to stop me from doing that," Murcer said earlier this month.

Source: Yankees

Wang to start season on disabled list

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees will begin the season without the services of ace right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, who suffered a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring while performing conditioning exercises on Friday.

Wang, who turns 27 on March 31, is expected to miss at least the first three weeks of the season.

"I don't look for him to touch our Major League roster until sometime in late April," general manager Brian Cashman said.

Wang was running sprints following fielding practice at the Yankees' Legends Field complex when he said he felt a "pop" in his right hamstring. The right-hander was sent for an MRI exam on Friday evening, which revealed the strain.

Wang said he hopes to be able to return to a mound in "hopefully 10 days," which may be optimistic thinking. The Yankees plan to place Wang -- who said he was "very, very sad" -- on the disabled list retroactively at the conclusion of Spring Training.

"I want to come back 100 percent," Wang said. "I hope it gets better."

A candidate to pitch on Opening Day on April 2 in the Bronx, Wang was the runner-up in last season's American League Cy Young Award voting.

The hurler tied Minnesota's Johan Santana for the league lead in victories, finishing 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 34 games. In four starts this spring, Wang was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA.

"You don't want stuff like this to happen, but unfortunately, this does happen," Cashman said. "It's in front of you; you deal with it. This won't be the first and it won't be the last, unfortunately."

Cashman said that Wang's injury will open up a roster spot for another pitcher currently in Major League camp. The team still intends to carry 12 pitchers.

Right-hander Jeff Karstens would appear to be a leading candidate to join the rotation. The 24-year-old has been a standout in Spring Training, compiling nine scoreless innings before he allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Blue Jays in his last start Monday.

"We have depth and we have choices," Cashman said. "We have people who have impressed this spring. It's a short-term issue that you're dealing with. We'll wait until we get Wang back and then, in the meantime, someone else will get that opportunity."

The injury is the second this week for the Yankees, who also sidelined left-hander Andy Pettitte with back spasms. Pettitte felt the injury while performing squat exercises on Monday and has been receiving continued treatment.

"It's definitely still a little sore, but I'm a lot better," Pettitte said Friday.

The 34-year-old had originally been scheduled to pitch on Friday, but the southpaw instead was only permitted to throw softly and stretch with the team at Legends Field. He said he has been "feeling better every day."

"I've been told it's just back spasms," Cashman said. "Nobody has told me to worry about Andy, so I'm not going to worry about it right now. Obviously I'd like to see him back on the mound and throwing well, but all in due time."

Because of the scratched start, Pettitte will likely have just one more Grapefruit League appearance before the Yankees open the regular season.

He said that he would not mind pitching in a Minor League game if need be, saying that the most important thing would be to head north with the team on April 1.

"I just want to make sure I get out of here," Pettitte said. "Tampa is not the place to be."

Source: Yankees

Pavano likely to go Opening Day

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees learned Saturday that their Opening Day starter won't be Chien-Ming Wang, who will miss most of the season's first month with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring.

Because of the way the rotation aligns for the season opener, it won't be Andy Pettitte or Mike Mussina, either. Manager Joe Torre said that the Yankees will select from a group including Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa and Jeff Karstens to throw the season's first pitch on April 2.

Of those three -- unbelievable as it might seem -- Pavano has become the likely favorite.

The 31-year-old right-hander has missed the last 1 1/2 Major League seasons due to a variety of injuries, but he is the most experienced of the hurlers left standing to accept the assignment.

"It's Opening Day, but there are 161 other games," Torre said. "It certainly is an important game, but so are the other ones."

The Yankees are planning a meeting on Monday to discuss the possibility of Pavano kicking off their 2007 campaign, along with a variety of other issues. Pavano hasn't appeared in a Major League game since June 27, 2005, and has never pitched on an Opening Day.

He does have experience, though, compiling a 61-64 record in 184 Major League games dating back to his 1998 debut. Separated from his teammates for nearly all of last season, Pavano has also made strides in winning back members of the clubhouse this spring.

In four Spring Training games (three starts), Pavano is 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA. In 12 1/3 innings, he has allowed 18 hits, walking seven and striking out five.

Torre said that dealing with the atmosphere of a season opener will come into consideration for the assignment. Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is a frenzied ritual of celebration, an energetic environment created by a baseball-starved capacity crowd.

Those may not be the ideal conditions under which Igawa, a 27-year-old Japanese import, would make his Major League debut. Karstens -- now securely projected as New York's fifth starter in Wang's absence -- has just eight games of big-league experience.

"If you think somebody's going to be a little bent out of shape over it, it would probably enter into it," Torre said. "But to me, if the guy is going to pitch at Yankee Stadium -- whether it's Monday or Wednesday or Thursday -- there's going to be a lot of people there.

"I give you, Opening Day -- all the introductions -- you have a tendency to certainly make more of it. I'm not saying that's wrong. Anytime you really count on somebody at this level for this team, you take that into consideration."

The Yankees are moving past Pettitte and Mussina due to scheduling concerns. Pettitte has been suffering from back spasms, and while he is feeling better, the veteran southpaw is not expected to pitch before Thursday, which will place him off turn.

If Pettitte pitched Friday against the Tigers at Lakeland, he would be on regular rest for Game 2 of the regular season on April 4, though the Yankees might not use him until April 5.

Likewise, Torre said the Yankees will not allow Mussina to pitch on three days' rest against Tampa Bay following a scheduled exhibition start on Thursday against the Blue Jays at Dunedin.

"That's something we certainly don't want to do," Torre said. "I don't see any reason to do that. It's one game. Whether you win Game 1 or Game 2 or Game 3, you still have to pitch one of those games. We certainly want to get him as comfortable as we can get."

Torre said that the Yankees had been aligning their rotation for Wang to pitch the season opener, though they never officially informed the right-hander -- or the media -- that Wang was being tabbed.

"He was lined up for it," Torre said. "It was pretty much understood, even though he was never told that. That's what we were sort of looking to."

No one would have guessed where their search might eventually wind up.

Source: Yankees

Karstens will get his shot

TAMPA, Fla. -- Like most baseball fans, Jeff Karstens read the newspaper Saturday morning and set off for the day believing that Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang had suffered just a leg cramp.

It wasn't until reporters approached Karstens that he learned the whole story -- a MRI taken Friday evening revealed a Grade 1 strain of Wang's right hamstring, knocking the probable Opening Day starter out of commission for most of the season's first month.

The 24-year-old right-hander needed an opening to make the Yankees' pitching staff, but the turn of events was of little consolation to Karstens, who termed it "unfortunate."

"If it was [between] me going to the big leagues or him being healthy, I'd definitely want him to be healthy," Karstens said. "He's an awesome guy."

But as the Yankees come to grips with the reality that they will be sans the services of last year's American League Cy Young Award runner-up, the club has turned its attention to current needs. With Wang down, the Yankees can make use of an additional starting pitcher, and Karstens is as good a bet as any to fill that role.

He has been a standout this spring, going 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four appearances (three starts). In 13 1/3 innings, Karstens has allowed 11 hits, struck out 11 and walked none.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that the team had been looking to make room on its projected 12-man pitching staff for Karstens. While the Yankees will need a fifth starter just once in their first 17 games, Karstens can also be utilized as a long reliever and spot starter.

"I don't want to say it's obvious, but he certainly is the guy who comes to mind," Torre said.

Karstens could wrap up his candidacy for the fifth starter's spot with a strong effort Sunday against the Tigers in Lakeland.

Karstens had reeled off the equivalent of a complete-game shutout, with nine strikeouts in his first three spring appearances, before being touched by Toronto for four runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 9-1 loss at Dunedin on Monday.

"I'm just going to go out there and try to do the same thing I have been doing," Karstens said. "[I want to] be a little better than last time out. They were getting a lot of 0-2, 1-2 hits.

"It helps the situation a little bit, I think. I'm not going to look at tomorrow as any different. I'm just going to go out there and get my work in. We'll see what happens."

Torre said that he expected New York baseball fans to soon become more familiar with Karstens, a 19th-round selection from the 2003 draft who grew up in San Diego, worked out this winter in Los Angeles with Chase Utley and Nomar Garciaparra, and now appears poised to make his leap to the Bronx.

"At least up until today, he's gone through this anonymously," Torre said. "I have a feeling that he's going to have to answer more questions here in the next couple of days."

Good enough: Mike Mussina came away from his fifth Grapefruit League start satisfied with the results, having settled down after a shaky opening.

"It was better," Mussina said. "It didn't look that great, but I thought it was OK."

Mussina faced eight Blue Jays in the first inning -- a frame extended by a catcher's interference call on Wil Nieves -- and put the Yankees in a 3-0 deficit before Johnny Damon could even lead off. Mussina also allowed a run in the second, but then blanked the Jays on two hits over the next four innings.

He finished a 79-pitch performance having allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits, walking two and striking out one. He said he was pleased to face the "A" Toronto lineup, which made the half-hour trip from Dunedin and included Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, Frank Thomas and Troy Glaus.

"It's satisfying," Mussina said. "They brought over almost all their frontline players. I struggled through the first inning or so, and made some adjustments. We'll just keep going."

No holding back: Given his three-week layoff, Bobby Abreu was in the mood to test his legs Saturday, rounding second base and trying for a triple as he led off the sixth inning against Toronto's Casey Janssen.

Abreu slid safely into third base and said he felt nothing running, another good sign as he continues to put his strained right oblique behind him.

"I just wanted to try it," Abreu said. "I'm starting to make my legs strong. I'll be ready for Opening Day."

The Yankees are giving Abreu a scheduled off-day on Sunday, with Torre telling the right fielder not to report to Legends Field. Abreu has appeared in four exhibition games and has logged 12 at-bats, batting .333. Beginning Monday, he has six contests remaining to hit a personal target of 30 to 40 plate appearances before the regular season.

"You always need the at-bats to work on getting ready," Abreu said. "I'm working on some things."

That's just me: Reliever Jose Veras appeared in the Yankees' clubhouse Friday, his right arm in a sling and a small jar in his hand. Veras had a bone spur removed earlier in the week by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., and was showing off the remainder to his teammates.

Veras pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Yankees this spring before being sidelined with elbow pain. He is expected to be out for two to three months, general manager Brian Cashman said.

Source: Yankees

I canNOT believe that we're starting off the season with one of our best starting pitchers on the DL!! I hope it truly is only for April, since there will be plenty more opportunities for him, but it still stinks.

I agree SB but I don't think it'll be more than April. I just don't think it's that serious (hopefully)

Well, better now than in August or September, I guess. I was just hoping to start the season healthy.

It's not serious; Wang is known as a fast healer, has shown it in the past, and threw a session this morning. He'll still go on the DL, just to be safe, but it may mean 1 rehab start rather than two.

---

I can't believe the press - they're saying Carl Pavano is going to be the Yankees opening day starter. Scary thought. Can't we just trade A-Rod and Pavano for Zambrano NOW?

---

Pettitte should be back in time for opening day, even though no one is paying any attention to him. He's been rested, and I see no reason why he still couldn't be an option. Why is Mike Mussina being ignored? I realize it will "screw up" the rotation schedule, but I've never believed that rest too much was going to kill a pitcher. 1 day can't hurt.

And, after all, its the Devil Rays.

Karstens leaves with elbow stiffness

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Six runs were already in for the Tigers on Sunday when Todd Pratt took a seat next to starting pitcher Jeff Karstens, trying to figure out how to handle the next turn of Detroit's potent lineup.

Before Pratt could get into specific details for Sean Casey, Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge in the third inning, Karstens interrupted his catcher. The Yankees now had much larger problems to contend with.

"Man, I'm hurting," Karstens told Pratt, pointing to his stiff right elbow.

"I've got to tell Gator [pitching coach Ron Guidry]," Pratt replied. "There's no reason to be a hero."

Karstens, 24, could have wrapped up his candidacy for the Yankees' fifth rotation spot with a solid effort on Sunday, but instead left Joker Marchant Stadium having secured an appointment on Monday in a Tampa, Fla., doctor's office.

Though Guidry said he saw nothing out of the ordinary in Karsten's pregame bullpen session, Karstens admitted he was never able to get loose. He continued to throw anyway, hoping his stiffness might evaporate by the time he reached the mound.

It never did. Karstens threw 46 pitches in a two-inning appearance, allowing six runs and six hits -- including a three-run home run to former Yankee Gary Sheffield -- before finally coming clean on his condition.

"I didn't want to push it too much and have something really [bad] happen," Karstens said.

Pratt also caught Karstens in his previous start against the Blue Jays last Monday in Dunedin, when the right-hander surrendered four runs in 4 1/3 innings -- the first rocky effort of the spring for Karstens, who opened camp with the equivalent of a complete-game shutout, striking out nine and walking none in nine innings.

"He basically had the same stuff [Sunday] he had in Dunedin," Pratt said. "I haven't really caught him when he was dealing. He couldn't make a difference. He basically didn't have the control that I've heard he has. It looked like he was forcing some pitches."

With the Yankees' preparations for the regular season nearing completion, Karstens said it would be disappointing if he learned of a setback this late in camp, but said he understood the situation.

"If I'm not 100 percent healthy, I can't really help them anyway," Karstens said. "Anytime you've got something wrong, it kind of worries you a little bit."

The injury is the second this week for the Yankees' suddenly beleaguered pitching staff, which took a major hit on Saturday when it was revealed that ace Chien-Ming Wang had been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring.

Wang is expected to be sidelined until late April at the earliest, and it was believed that Karstens would fill the void in the rotation until then.

"Obviously, he's going to be shut down for a time, which is going to muddy the waters," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Torre said that the team would discuss potential solutions, among other topics, in an organizational meeting on Monday. It's probable that right-hander Darrell Rasner -- who has allowed two earned runs in 12 innings this spring, compiling a 1.50 ERA -- has vaulted into serious consideration for the roster spot.

"The first concern is for [Karstens]," Torre said. "The team is obviously important, but you need to have these players taken care of, especially when they have bright futures ahead of them. Hopefully, it's not a big issue."

Karstens said that he only recalled having elbow problems once before, and it was of a dissimilar nature.

As a freshman at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, Calif., Karstens suffered from bone chips in his growth plate, an injury which restricted him from everyday activities as mundane as combing his hair.

He said the sensations he felt Sunday were more of stiffness than pain. Either way, the Yankees will likely have to look elsewhere to fill their needs for the Opening Day roster.

Jason Giambi said that there is concern in the clubhouse, but stressed that the team still has time to rebound.

"I don't know if you hit the panic button," he said. "It's not like we're at the All-Star break. The biggest thing is just to take care of it and hopefully it won't be as bad."

Source: Yankees

Re: Wang. It's best to sit him because hamstring injuries are recurrent. Even after you're feeling fine, the injury is still there.

Re: Pavano. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstoe. Okay, not really. But the Yankees always start the season 1-0.

Notes: Pettitte to throw on Monday

LAKELAND, Fla. -- After spending most of his week in the trainer's room receiving treatment for back spasms, Andy Pettitte is more than ready to get back on the mound.

The left-hander will have his chance on Monday. Pettitte is scheduled to throw the first of two bullpen sessions in preparation for a final Spring Training start on Friday against the Tigers, though he admits the spasms haven't completely subsided.

"I still feel it a little bit," Pettitte said. "But there's a point when you have to do something. That's my take on it."

Because Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry wants Pettitte to throw two bullpen sessions in preparation for each start, the lefty is unlikely to be prepared to pitch Wednesday, which would have put him on turn to pitch Opening Day in New York.

Guidry's demands are consistent with Pettitte's normal schedule; he is accustomed to throwing one normal bullpen and one light session between starts, which likely sets Pettitte up to throw bullpens on Monday and Wednesday.

Pettitte said he has felt improvement -- from the beginning, he has said the spasms have been relocating around his back, a good sign that the situation is not something larger.

"I'm moving a little better," Pettitte said. "I've never had anything like this. If it was something to do with my arm or my elbow, it'd be a lot easier for me to tell you."

Pettitte said he will not know how his command and stuff have been affected until he gets on a mound and throws with the downward slope. He played catch on Saturday and reported no problems, though he has been somewhat frustrated this week with the slow pace of his recovery.

"Obviously, I would love to just pitch," Pettitte said. "I need to be realistic and use my head right now, and realize that I have all kinds of time. I just don't want to push anything and get in a game and aggravate it."

Wang still throwing: With his strained right hamstring lightly wrapped in a bandage, Chien-Ming Wang played catch across the outfield of Legends Field on Sunday morning, tossing for about 10 minutes with Guidry.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that the activity will keep up Wang's strength as he recovers from his injury, though his projected timetable remains the same. General manager Brian Cashman has said the Yankees do not expect Wang to appear on a Major League mound until late April, at the earliest.

"It's a long way from pitching, but it's good that he's able to do that," Torre said. "Maybe by next weekend, he'll be able to start on his way back."

Wang faces a progression of rehab starts and bullpen appearances ahead. He'll stay in Tampa when the Yankees go north, and even though his strain has been termed mild -- the diagnosis of Grade 1 is the least severe of three possible levels -- Torre said a "quick" recovery could be just the difference of one turn around a rotation.

"The thing is, even between one rehab starts and two rehab starts, it's the difference of a week," Torre said. "You're not dealing in days like you would a regular player."

Source: Yankees

Opening Day big chance for Pavano

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Jason Giambi remembers what it's like to be the huge question mark in Yankees pinstripes, desperately trying to reacclimate after a variety of injuries and health issues.
That's why he can sympathize with Carl Pavano.

The oft-injured right-hander is on the cusp of returning to Major League action after a 1 1/2-year layoff, and is a likely choice to be the Yankees' Opening Day starter, if only by default. The assignment should fall to Pavano with ace Chien-Ming Wang down to injury and both Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte projecting to be off-turn for April 2.

"I hope he embraces it," Giambi said Sunday. "This is a chance for him to stand up front and show everybody the type of pitcher he is. I'm excited for him, and I hope he's excited that he gets that opportunity. You want to harness that excitement.

"This is a big chance for him. I know what it's like to come, basically, from hell."

The "hell" Giambi speaks of was his miserable 2004 campaign, in which he served two separate stints on the disabled list, sidelined for the first times of his career.

A sprained right ankle, an intestinal parasite and a benign tumor limited Giambi to just 80 games for New York, as he batted a career low .208 and was forced to slowly distance himself from the Yankees' postseason aspirations.

Upon Giambi's return a year later, a season that the slugger parlayed into an AL Comeback Player of the Year Award, Derek Jeter had been among the first to welcome the slugger back into the Yankees fold. It is a gesture Giambi has not forgotten to this day.

It's that brand of in-house acceptance that could help Pavano take a step toward fulfilling some of the promise the Yankees saw after the 2004 season, signing him to a four-year contract.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Pavano will be announced by legendary public address announcer Bob Sheppard on the afternoon of April 2, warming up in the Yankees bullpen as Joe Torre and Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon stand face-to-face at home plate.

It's unclear how a projected capacity crowd will receive Pavano after a multitude of injuries and mishaps prevented him from contributing to the club over a span of 643 days, but Giambi said he hopes his Yankees teammates will be applauding.

"I hope they ... give him that second opportunity to stand up," Giambi said. "Go show him that, 'Hey, we're behind him.' I think that's important for the guys to rally around him and make him feel like he's really wanted, because I know that was important to me."

The odds of Pavano throwing the first pitch of the Yankees' season would have been unbelievably long had they been handicapped on Feb. 13, the day pitchers and catchers reported to Legends Field in Tampa. Pavano said he considered the likely nod "an honor" but admitted that even he hadn't envisioned the thought of an Opening Day assignment.

"It's unfortunate," Pavano said. "We've got some of the best pitchers on our staff now injured. With the turn of events, if I get that opportunity, it's my time to pick up some slack. I guess it's a positive for me, because I was always on the other end."

Pavano's spring performances have been solid, not spectacular. Early in camp, the Yankees were simply content to see Pavano make his scheduled turns around the rotation without setbacks, and he did so, excepting for an excused absence from a March 9 game to attend to a personal matter.

With pitch counts rising and starters being stretched out, however, the Yankees have been looking for more from Pavano. His statistics are underwhelming -- 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA in four games, with 18 hits plus seven walks and five strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings -- but Torre believes there's more to Pavano's spring than just the raw numbers.

"I like what I've seen from him," Torre said. "Not only the stuff on the mound, but his whole demeanor. I think it would be a progression if he was the one [to start Opening Day]. I don't think it would make any kind of statement other than that we're comfortable where he is."

Apprised of his looming potential start, Pavano was quick to state that he hadn't heard of the opportunity until he arrived at Legends Field on Sunday -- Torre had announced the scheduling problems of using Mussina or Pettitte after Pavano left the stadium Saturday -- but said that he would have to think of the start as he would any other.

After his laundry list of trials and tribulations, some of it misfortune and some of it self-induced, just the fact that Pavano will be receiving a game ball in a Major League stadium is noteworthy. The fact that it's probably coming on Opening Day just adds to the drama of it all.

"One game of 162," Pavano said. "It's an important start, but every start for me is important."

Source: Yankees

Karstens leaves with elbow stiffness

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Six runs were already in for the Tigers on Sunday when Todd Pratt took a seat next to starting pitcher Jeff Karstens, trying to figure out how to handle the next turn of Detroit's potent lineup.

Before Pratt could get into specific details for Sean Casey, Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge in the third inning, Karstens interrupted his catcher. The Yankees now had much larger problems to contend with.

"Man, I'm hurting," Karstens told Pratt, pointing to his stiff right elbow.

"I've got to tell Gator [pitching coach Ron Guidry]," Pratt replied. "There's no reason to be a hero."

Karstens, 24, could have wrapped up his candidacy for the Yankees' fifth rotation spot with a solid effort on Sunday, but instead left Joker Marchant Stadium having secured an appointment on Monday in a Tampa, Fla., doctor's office.

Though Guidry said he saw nothing out of the ordinary in Karsten's pregame bullpen session, Karstens admitted he was never able to get loose. He continued to throw anyway, hoping his stiffness might evaporate by the time he reached the mound.

It never did. Karstens threw 46 pitches in a two-inning appearance, allowing six runs and six hits -- including a three-run home run to former Yankee Gary Sheffield -- before finally coming clean on his condition.

"I didn't want to push it too much and have something really [bad] happen," Karstens said.

Pratt also caught Karstens in his previous start against the Blue Jays last Monday in Dunedin, when the right-hander surrendered four runs in 4 1/3 innings -- the first rocky effort of the spring for Karstens, who opened camp with the equivalent of a complete-game shutout, striking out nine and walking none in nine innings.

"He basically had the same stuff [Sunday] he had in Dunedin," Pratt said. "I haven't really caught him when he was dealing. He couldn't make a difference. He basically didn't have the control that I've heard he has. It looked like he was forcing some pitches."

With the Yankees' preparations for the regular season nearing completion, Karstens said it would be disappointing if he learned of a setback this late in camp, but said he understood the situation.

"If I'm not 100 percent healthy, I can't really help them anyway," Karstens said. "Anytime you've got something wrong, it kind of worries you a little bit."

The injury is the second this week for the Yankees' suddenly beleaguered pitching staff, which took a major hit on Saturday when it was revealed that ace Chien-Ming Wang had been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring.

Wang is expected to be sidelined until late April at the earliest, and it was believed that Karstens would fill the void in the rotation until then.

"Obviously, he's going to be shut down for a time, which is going to muddy the waters," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Torre said that the team would discuss potential solutions, among other topics, in an organizational meeting on Monday. It's probable that right-hander Darrell Rasner -- who has allowed two earned runs in 12 innings this spring, compiling a 1.50 ERA -- has vaulted into serious consideration for the roster spot.

"The first concern is for [Karstens]," Torre said. "The team is obviously important, but you need to have these players taken care of, especially when they have bright futures ahead of them. Hopefully, it's not a big issue."

Karstens said that he only recalled having elbow problems once before, and it was of a dissimilar nature.

As a freshman at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, Calif., Karstens suffered from bone chips in his growth plate, an injury which restricted him from everyday activities as mundane as combing his hair.

He said the sensations he felt Sunday were more of stiffness than pain. Either way, the Yankees will likely have to look elsewhere to fill their needs for the Opening Day roster.

Jason Giambi said that there is concern in the clubhouse, but stressed that the team still has time to rebound.

"I don't know if you hit the panic button," he said. "It's not like we're at the All-Star break. The biggest thing is just to take care of it and hopefully it won't be as bad."

Source: Yankees

I know this isn't "technically" a Yankees story but SI already believe Zambrano is going to be a Yankee next season

Z-Day
Time running out for Cubs to get Zambrano signed

MESA, Ariz. -- The guy standing near the dugout at Ho Ho Kam Park last week was a Yankees fan. By definition, that meant he had something to say. And he was damn well going to get it said.

"Hey, Carlos," the young Bronx Babbler yelled as the Cubs' man-mountain of an ace, Carlos Zambrano, strode off the field after another Spring Training workout. "See you next year with the Yankees."

Zambrano stopped dead in his spikes on the top step of the dugout. He cocked his head, ever so slightly. He pointed at Yankee Fan, just to let him know the comment was heard. He smiled. And then he loped down into the darkness of the dugout and up into the Cubs' clubhouse without a word.

This is it for Zambrano and the Cubs. This is the week. This is where all the talk has led us. Either he and his agents and the Cubs come to some kind of an agreement on a contract extension before Opening Day -- next Monday afternoon in Cincinnati -- or Zambrano calls off all the contractual shop talk as he's said he will, pitches the 2007 season with the not-insignificant contract he already has and, next winter, instantly becomes the most drooled-over pitcher on the free-agent market since Barry Zito.

If he signs this week, Zambrano probably won't get Zito-type money, at least not in total dollars. (His annual average salary could come close, though. More on that a little later.) But barring a signing this week, or a debilitating injury sometime this season, Zambrano would almost certainly land a deal next winter from some overheated team that would make Zito's seven-year, $126 million contract with the Giants -- the richest ever for a pitcher -- look like something you'd pick out of the greeting card aisle at a SuperTarget.

Gentlemen, start your rhetoric.

To be fair, the two sides in this high-stakes negotiation have been talking for weeks now, managing admirably to keep a lid on any public posturing. The reason for that is refreshingly simple in this often complicated contract pas de deux: Zambrano wants to stay in Chicago. And the Cubs want him to stay. It makes sense for both sides -- almost too much sense in a game where fiscal sanity struck out a long time ago -- for Zambrano to re-up with the Cubs.

But will it happen? Will the Cubs swallow hard and pay a pitcher the kind of dough Zambrano commands? Will Zambrano forsake a chance at possibly millions more on next winter's free agent market for the security and relatively hassle-free chance to make millions now? (Or, of course, possibly risk millions by not signing and getting injured.)

Nobody knows at this point, but there is a recent trend in baseball toward locking up young talent before it hits the dollar-dopey free-agent market. A couple very cogent examples:

• The Astros gave their ace, Roy Oswalt, a five-year contract extension last August worth $73 million. It already looks like a bargain.

• The Cardinals slapped down $63.5 million for five seasons' worth of a contract extension for their stud starter, Chris Carpenter. A veritable blue-light special, that one.

The Cubs, too, have been all-too happy to try to keep their players happy recently. A few examples:

• Among the nearly $300 million that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry shelled out this winter for players was $75 million (over five years) to lock up third baseman Aramis Ramirez before he had a chance to wade into the free-agent market.

• Last April, Hendry signed first baseman Derrek Lee to a five-year, $65 million extension.

• Hendry also talked pitcher Kerry Wood into a one-year contract over the winter during the period that the Cubs had exclusive negotiating rights to him, and the year before that the GM signed closer Ryan Dempster to a three-year extension.

So, given some of those hefty numbers and the certainty that, next winter, they'll probably be even heftier, both sides are busy burning up calculator batteries and wording contract proposals just right. Yet the question remains: Can Hendry and Zambrano -- represented by agents Barry Praver, Tommy Miranda and Scott Shapiro -- pull this off?

Indications are that they're getting there. Sources close to the talks say that the two sides have agreed that any extension will be for five years. That could be five years in addition to the 2007 season -- Zambrano and the Cubs beat the salary arbitration buzzer earlier this winter when they agreed on a $12.4 million contract for '07 -- or the two sides could rip up this year's contract and start anew. That's not clear. Neither Hendry nor Zambrano's reps are being very forthcoming about terms, which is probably a good sign that they're heading in the right direction.

The fact that the two sides are talking is encouraging for those who want this deal to get done. Praver was in Arizona last week, where he talked with Hendry. He left late in the week without a deal, but both he and Hendry point out that they don't need to be in the same room, or even in the same time zone, to get this thing nailed down.

As the Cubs and Zambrano's people do their things, the pitcher is busy doing his, preparing for the season as the team's most flamboyant and important player. "The Bull," it says on the back of his chair in the Ho Ho Kam clubhouse, and nobody in Chicago -- or anywhere else for that matter -- doubts it.

Zambrano has made at least 31 starts and thrown no less than 209 2/3 innings in each of the past four years. He is imposing (6-foot-5 and probably more than the 250 pounds at which the Cubs list him), a hard thrower with a fiery streak who has been in the National League's Top 10 in strikeouts in each of the past three years and in the NL's Top 10 in ERA in each of the past four. During the past four years, he ranks behind only the Twins' Johan Santana and Oswalt in ERA [see chart]. He's also, arguably, the best-hitting pitcher in baseball. He certainly is the strongest, with 10 career home runs, more than any other active pitcher.

And did we mention that he's not 26 until June 1, which makes him younger than anybody else on that Top 10 list but Marlins lefty Dontrelle Willis? With all that going for him, "El Toro" is not about to get all worked up about a little piece of paper that spells out what he might get paid in the future. Not a chance.

"I don't have any distractions about that at all. Believe me. I know, if I don't sign with the Cubs, there are many other teams interested. I don't think about it," Zambrano said the day after Yankee Fan made him laugh. "Look, last year, I made good money. This year, I'm making good enough money to live. Let's say if I got hurt ... who can't live on $12.4 million? I think you can live on that, with a good life. That's why I don't worry about that."

The truth is, if anybody should be worried in this negotiation, it's the Cubs. Granted, it has to be hard to open up the Tribune Co. coffers and pay the kind of money that Zambrano must be asking. But the Cubs have millions of fans to please. They need a leader like Zambrano for their fractured pitching staff. You could argue, without much effort, that signing Zambrano is the fiscally prudent thing to do, given the rapidly rising cost for starting pitching.

Signing him won't be easy, by any stretch of the checkbook. Just as an educated guess, the two sides are probably talking about a figure north of Oswalt's average annual value of $14.6 million and one that is closing in on Zito's $15.75 million. And don't be surprised, given this market, if it's more.

So, the total for the deal, over five years: Think somewhere between $75-78 million. And, yeah, it could be higher.

Hendry, understandably unwilling to say too much as this negotiation winds its way into the final fragile week, can't help but praise his ace. How could he? "He's got as good a stuff as you'll see," the general manager said last weekend. "And he's never been anything but a good kid."

Zambrano, as he has often in the past months and years, reiterated his desire to stay with the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent almost 10 years ago. "El Toro" also talks of winning a World Series with the Cubs -- it's been a while, you may know -- and of winning a Cy Young award to match his fellow Venezuelan, the Twins' superb left-hander, Santana.

"This is the team that saw me grow up, in the minor leagues and now in the big leagues," Zambrano said, his voice soft in a nearly deserted clubhouse. "Even if it doesn't work out long-term with the Cubs, I still have to do a good job [this season], 'cause I love this game. And I feel, for this team. For many years they haven't won anything.

"You know how many people in the past, past Cubs players -- Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams -- many good players that haven't won a World Series? So if we do it this year, it'd be special. You'd be part of something special. It's being in the right time, the right place -- the right year. I think this is the right year to do it. We have a great team, great chemistry. We want to do it."

If not this year with the Cubs, will Zambrano be able to try again next year, and the year after, and for a few more after that? Or will the Cubs stumble in their attempt to sign him and allow him to see what's out there?

Will the Evil Empire and Yankee Fan get a crack at Zambrano next winter?

"I like the Yankees, but I don't see myself pitching at Yankee Stadium. Too many rules," he said with a laugh. "If I play in New York, it's going to be with the Mets. First of all, because I get to hit. And I love hitting.

"I can't say ... that I would never play for the Yankees. Hopefully no, but you never know. This is a business."

Never more for Zambrano and the Cubs than this week.

Source: SI

Even though Zammy likes to bat, it's pretty clear with his attitude he wants the paycheck. On one hand, his cockiness could be a nice change, and a contrast to the Pettitte humility. I do think though it would be interesting to see if they would actually try to bat Zambrano in some occasions and switch out the DH, forcing the pitcher into the lineup...it would be interesting.

Either way...the good news seems to be Rasner should make the team, Karstens will be optioned back to AAA to heal, and Pettitte and Wang look to be coming along nicely. No need to push the panic button yet.

Notes: Rivera changing it up a little

TAMPA, Fla. -- Spring Training is never a time of much concern for Mariano Rivera.

His valued right arm healthy and recording Grapefruit League outs with regularity, the Yankees closer has occupied his time by toying with a changeup, which he coyly says may or may not see the light of day this season.

Either way, it has raised a few eyebrows, prompted a few laughs and -- perhaps most importantly -- has achieved swings and misses from opposing batters. Rivera pitched yet another scoreless inning in the Yankees' 5-1 victory over the Phillies on Monday, running his spring total to nine blank frames.

"When I come here, I'm thinking to get ready as quick as possible and throw my innings," Rivera said. "Whatever the results will be, that's fine with me. I don't come here to impress. I do what I have to."

The 37-year-old closer has shown no signs of slowing this spring, reeling off outs with surgical precision. When Rivera allows a baserunner -- as he did Monday -- it has become noteworthy; he has surrendered just four hits and no walks this spring, striking out nine.

"He looks comfortable, and that's the best news for me," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He's out there with that changeup and he's not afraid to throw it back-to-back. He looks pretty determined right now."

As the days of Spring Training have whittled down to single digits, Rivera has continued to experiment with the changeup, a pitch that almost seems like an unfair addition for this era's most dominant closer.

"I don't know why," Rivera said. "Just having fun, I guess."

The Yankees have supported the expansion of Rivera's repertoire, cautioning only that he should use it against experienced Major League hitters. Younger players do not provide an accurate enough read of the surprise factor, as some may simply hack at any pitch they can make contact with.

"I just throw it in there and let it float, you know?" Rivera said. "I'm just having a good time."

He's looking A-O-Kei: Making his fifth start of the Grapefruit League season, Kei Igawa appears to have put some early concerns behind him.

The 27-year-old left-hander focused the crux of his effort against the Phillies on improving his changeup, and while he wasn't completely satisfied with his performance, the results were fine. Igawa allowed one run and three hits in five innings, walking two and striking out four to increase his team-leading whiff total to 19.

"I think he's beyond the point of trying to impress people," Torre said. "Now he's understanding what he needs to improve or feel better about going into the season. To me, that was a good step."

The 87-pitch outing was the second straight start of five innings for Igawa, both against the Phillies. His fastball command has improved over the last three weeks, dating back to a wild March 5 debut against the Tigers, and Igawa's slider appears to be a pitch that could garner strikeouts of Major League hitters.

"I've been pitching pretty well lately," Igawa said, through interpreter Yumi Watanabe. "I'm just getting into my style of pitching. ... As I throw more, I'm getting a lot better. There are a couple of things I have to still work on."

Back in the 'pen: Left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday morning, reporting no further issues with the back spasms that have kept him off the field for a week.

"I didn't want to feel anything, and I didn't," Pettitte said. "This was as good as I could expect."

The bullpen session was the first of two that the 34-year-old Pettitte is projected to throw this week, with another tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.

That would permit Pettitte to throw in game action on Friday, a performance which Torre said would likely come in a Minor League game. Such an arrangement would save Pettitte a trip to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.

If Pettitte rejoins the rotation on Friday, he would still be unavailable to pitch the season opener April 2 at Yankee Stadium. The assignment could go to either Carl Pavano or Igawa, with Pavano widely considered a front-runner.

"We've got to remember that there are 162 games," Torre said. "It's the long haul that we're concerned about. Whenever we're comfortable that [Pettitte is] ready to take the ball and go out there, that's when it'll be."

Good news on Karstens: The Yankees received "normal" reports on Jeff Karstens, the best possible outcome of a battery of examinations on the hurler's tight right elbow.

Karstens, 24, left his start Sunday against the Tigers after just two innings. He was sent for diagnostics later that evening and had a MRI and X-rays taken on Monday, and said that doctors had actually pinpointed the triceps instead of the elbow -- a good sign.

"It's just a little stiff," Karstens said. "I don't want to chance it too much. If you keep pushing it and pushing it, you're going to make it worse."

Torre called the news "outstanding." The Yankees plan to re-evaluate Karstens in the next few days, though general manager Brian Cashman was non-committal when asked if Karstens could avoid a stint on the 15-day disabled list.

"We'll see," Cashman said.

Karstens had been in serious competition to serve as New York's fifth starter, especially after ace Chien-Ming Wang went down to a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.

"That's why you try to line up as much depth as you can," Cashman said. "The season's going to start and we'll plug people in."

Source: Yankees