Game 43. The Lineup and a deal.

I’ll have the report later. I’ll miss today’s game because I have to work 1-5 today.

Yanks 26-16, 1st place by one game in the A.L. East. OPS+ 96 (100 is average), ERA+ 117. They are three games better than their pythagorean record.

Pronk comes back today at DH. Granderson goes to RF. Ichiro sits. Ichiro, at 39, unfortunately is looking more like a 4th OF, PR, Defensive replacement, backup OF right now. Besides a Wells/Gardner/Granderson OF looks better and makes the lineup stronger.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/attempts  OPS+   Comments  Team leader.

Gardner 8 .261-3-15  9/12  98
Cano 4 .291-10-27  2/2  129   Last 12 games .204-2-8
Wells 7 .287-10-23  4/5  129
Hafner DH .260-6-18  1/1  140
Overbay 3 .259-6-24  0/0  107
Granderson 9  4 for 11 since coming off the DL
Nix 6 .231-1-9  2/2  65
Adams 5  4th MLB game. 4 for 11 so far.
Romine 2  18th MLB game, 6 for 38 so far in his MLB career.

Phelps 1-2, 4.33    ERA+ 96

Meanwhile, a deal. The Rockies have traded utility infielder Reid Brignac to the Yankees, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Brignac is a lefty hitter who can play 2B, 3B and SS (mostly SS). He is 27 and in 719 MLB at bats has hit .228 with 11 HR and an OPS+ of 63. His 162 g. average is .228-6-41. My guess is that Alberto Gonzalez goes for Brignac and that they work him in around Nix and Adams at SS and 3B. Brignac was hitting .250-1-6 for Colorado this year in 29 games and he played for the Rays from 2008-2012.

The Minors today.

AAA: SWB won 4-3 in 10. Graham Stoneburner 6 IP, 2R. SWB got just 5 hits, 3 by 3b Ronnier Mustelier, who drove in 3 runs.

AA: Trenton got just four hits in losing 2-1. Jose Ramirez (keep an eye on him!) a ND, 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 walk and 7 K. ERA 1.50. In five games, four starts, the 23 year old Ramirez (RHP) is 0-1, 1.50, 33 K in 24 IP, just 5 walks. Only 11 hits given up.

High A:  Tampa won 4-3 in 13. Scottie Allen 6 IP, 1 R, 7K. Cesar Cabral is back off the DL, but had a very shaky outing. 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 4 walks. CF Ben Gamel 3 hits. SS Carmen Angelini 2 H, rbi. RF Anderson Feliz 2 H, rbi and 3B Dan Fiorito 3 H, rbi.

Low A: 7-6 loss for Charleston. Evan Rutckyj 4 2/3, 2 R, 8 H and 8 K. DH Greg Bird HR, 2 rbi.

Game 42. Yanks shut out Toronto, 5-0.

Hiroki Kuroda has been the Yanks’ ace so far this year and he was again tonight. He gave up a leadoff double and then no other hit until the seventh inning as the Yanks shut out Toronto 5-0.

In making predictions, a lot of people had the Blue Jays (what with their winter acquisitions) winning the AL East and the Yanks near the bottom. As we have just passed the quarter pole, check the standings.

Kuroda (W, 6-2, 1.99) went 8, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 5 K. Preston Claiborne pitched the 9th, gave up 2 hits, but his MLB ERA remains at 0.00.

The hitting stars are people you wouldn’t expect. A 3B (David Adams) playing in his third MLB game and a 3rd-string rookie catcher (Austin Romine) who was 4 for 35 in his MLB career entering this game.

In the first, Brett Gardner tripled and scored on a groundout by Cano.

In the fifth, Adams and Romine singled, Gardner walked and Nix got a SF.

The Yanks broke it open in the seventh with three runs.  Adams doubled and Ichiro put down a beauty of a bunt single. Romine doubled home a run, Gardner singled in another and Nix closed out the scoring with another SF.

Nix had a strange line. Two walks and 2 sac flies. 0 for 0 with 2 RBI.

Meanwhile, Ben Francisco batted fifth again tonight. WHY? Please, oh please DFA him. 5 for 44 this season. .114.

The Yanks put Pettitte on the 15-day DL and recalled Vidal Nuno.

Stewart should miss just a few days.

The minors today.

How can a catcher never receive more than 150 AB in a minor league season, but continue to climb up the minor league ladder each year? Don’t ask me, but Jeff Farnham has done it in the Yanks’ minor league system. 140 G., 510 minor league AB. .235-4-43. Nothing to write home about. Most AB in a season 142 for Low A Charleston in 2011. But here he is as a backup for AAA SWB. Go figure.

AAA: SWB lost 4-1. Wang went 6 2/3, 4 R, 12H. 2-3, 3.29. Ronnier Mustelier 2 H (3B, .211).

AA: Trenton got only two hits in a 6-2 loss. Both hits were solo HR (Cf Slade Heathcott & LF Neil Medchill).

High A: 9-4 loss for Tampa. 3 h, 2 doubles, 2B Angelo Gumbs. 2 H, double, 2 RBI for C Gary Sanchez.

Low A: 6-3 Charleston win. Rafael De Paula 6 IP, 2 R, 3 H and 11 K. DH Greg Bird 2 H, triple, Hr, 2 RBI. 2 H, HR, 2 RBI for 3B Dante Bichette, Jr.

Game 41. No #250 for Andy as he leaves early. Yanks lose, 3-2.

Not only did Andy Pettitte not get his 250th career win tonight, he could not qualify for the win. He was pulled with neck and back trouble and took the loss after going just 4 2/3 in the Yanks 3-2 loss to Seattle.

Before the game, the Yanks optioned Brett Marshall back to SWB and brought up Dellin Betances. Here’s some info from mlb.com on the 6’8″ Betances, who may make it as a reliever, but to be frank, has been a disappointment.

Betances, 25, had been touted as one of the club’s brightest pitching prospects, ranked No. 19 by MLB.com, but the local product has experienced struggles with his control and recently moved to the bullpen full-time at Triple-A, where he was 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA in eight games (six starts).

Marshall gave up 5 R in 5 2/3 in his MLB debut but threw 108 pitches, hence the move.

In the 2nd, Andy gave up an RBI double, and the Yanks got it right back on a double by David Adams for his first career RBI.

Andy gave up a run in the fourth on a bases-loaded, 2-out infield single. He had to leave with the injury after 4 2/3. Hopefully a DL stint isn’t necessary, but after his last outing, it’s good to know that Nuno is available.

Not only that, C Chris Stewart left the game with an issue.

Calling Hawkeye and B.J. The M*A*S*H* unit is getting (can you believe it?) larger.

Pettitte, 4 2/3 (L, 4-3, 3.83), 2 R. 4 H, 3 walks and 5 K.

Shawn Kelley gave up a HR to Mike Morse (code) in the 6th. 3-1 Mariners.

Kelley 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 5 K.  5.71.

Logan 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 2.31.

Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 1.37.

The Yanks had their chances. They were 2 for 13 with RISP tonight.

I don’t know when the Yanks last successfully executed a squeeze play. In honor of one of the greatest bunters ever, Phil Rizzuto, I’ll pop open a bottle of champagne the next time they do so.

In the 5th, 1st and 3rd, one out and Gardner K’s, Nix pops up. One thing I’ve harped on FOR YEARS. Why no squeeze with Gardner up? He can beat OUT a bunt. Why no squeeze down 2-1?

They had 1st & 2nd, two out in the sixth and the rookie, Adams, bounced into a forceout.

They did cut it to 3-2 in the 7th (the final score) on a single by Ichiro, walk by Stewart and after two outs, a single by Cano.

They had Granderson on 2nd with one out in the 8th. Adams popped up and the slumping Ichiro struck out.

Gardner singled with one out in the 9th and stole 2nd and 3rd. With two out, Robbie bounced to SS to end the game.

Granderson had 3 hits tonight. Meanwhile, prospect Austin Romine has to start hitting. 1 for 17 so far in the majors this year.

The minors today.

AAA: SWB lost 12-11. Chris Bootcheck 8 R in 3 IP. Iineffective relief from Josh Spence, Cody Eppley and Jim Miller. RF Thomas Neal 3 for 4, .329, and I hope he replaces Ben Francisco (.100) NOW! 1B Dan Johnson 2 H, HR, 2 RBI. 2 hits each for LF Zoilo Almonte (3 RBI), 3B Ronnier Mustelier (3 RBI), and C Bobby Wilson (1 RBI).

AA: 6-4 win for Trenton. Mikey O’Brien 2 R in 5 IP. 2 H, 2 RBI RF Tyler Austin. SS Ali Castillo 2 RBI. CF Slade Heathcott 2 h, rbi.

High A: 7-2 loss for Tampa. Shane Greene 5 R in 5 IP.

Low A: 6-3 win for Charleston. CF Jake Cave 4 for 5. C Pete O’Brien 1 for 2, HR, 3 RBI. 2 H, solo HR DH Rey Nunez. 3B Dante Bichette Jr. 2 h and an rbi, but he’s hitting just .177.

Game 40. Hughes, Yanks, hammered, 12-2.

We hit the quarter pole with the Yanks at a surprising 25-15 considering all the injuries.

The bad news is the loss tonight, a 12-2 pasting by Seattle, and it was led by our old buddy, Raul Ibanez.

Phil Hughes is an enigma. When good, he can be very good. When bad, he can be horrendous. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tonight he was very, very bad.

He only lasted 2/3 of an inning, giving up 7 R (a grand slam to Raul), 6 H, 2 walks and 0 K. He falls to 2-3, 5.88.

His first two starts this year were not good. That could be written off because he missed a lot of spring training due to a bulging disc in his back. He then rattled off four good outings in which his ERA in those outings was 1.93. Now two bad outings.

You don’t know what you’ll get. That is his problem. He must be more consistent. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The last pitcher I used that on was … A.J. Burnett. Hughes is like Burnett right now. You don’t know which one—good or bad—will show up.

From the LOHUD blog:

In his first two and his last two – the starts when he’s struggled — he’s had a combined ERA of 14.17 with seven strikeouts. In his middle four starts, he’s had a combined ERA of 1.93 with 30 strikeouts.

Preston Claiborne continued his impressive beginning of his MLB career with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. His ERA is still 0.00.

Brett Marshall then made his MLB debut, and unfortunately for him, it was a forgettable one. With the Yanks down by a bunch, he kind of “took one for the team.” He went 5 2/3, 5 R, 9 H, 5 walks and 1 K. He gave up 2 dingers.

The last out was recorded by SS Alberto Gonzalez, who faced one batter and got a flyout. He recorded just one less out than Hughes.

I hope Hughes was watching Monday when Phelps and Nuno did well. For if he continues the inconsistency, then he must know there are others ready to step in. I’ve defended Hughes, but there is no defense for tonight. He was awful. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder if he is disguising an injury. If not, there is no need to panic yet. But eight starts into the season, an ERA of 5.88 isn’t anywhere near good enough.

Before the game, David Adams was activated from AAA, and he played 3B, his first MLB game. Recently acquired 3B Chris Nelson was DFA’d. Adams went 1 for 4.

The Yanks got their runs from HR by Vernon Wells (10) and Chris Stewart (3).

It’s funny. Wells, who the Angels couldn’t wait to dump (salary) after two subpar years for them, has more HR combined than Pujols & Hamilton.