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.

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.

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.

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.

Game 39. Yanks come back to win 4-3.

I only wish I could have watched it. I couldn’t. CC vs. King Felix. A  matchup of aces, and after six innings, it didn’t look good for the Yanks as they were down 3-0.

But they came back to win 4-3.

Curtis Granderson was activated off the DL today, played LF and hit cleanup. Travis Hafner will be out a couple of days with a sore shoulder. Vernon Wells Dh’d tonight. To make room for Granderson, Vidal Nuno was sent back to AAA.

Sending Nuno down serves a few purposes. For one, he won’t be able to pitch for a few days anyway. For another, yesterday was the first day he pitched in almost two weeks. Lastly, sending him back enables him to start and stay stretched out in case the Yanks need an emergency starter.

So it is CC vs. King Felix. Seattle scores an unearned run in the second, when with two outs, Kyle Seager doubles home a baserunner who had reached on an Overbay error.

In the sixth, CC gave up a 2-run HR to our old buddy, Raul Ibanez. 3-0 Seattle with King Felix on the mound. It did not look good.

But the Mariners pulled King Felix Hernandez after six. The Yanks then pounced on the M’s bullpen to win the game.

CC went 6 1/3, 3 R, 2 ER, 10 H, 2 walks and 10 K. He gets the ND, ERA to 3.19.

Meanwhile, King Felix struck out 8 in 6 IP.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Yanks started their comeback. Down 3-0, a single by Cano and eventual double by Overbay cut it to 3-1. Hernandez was then pulled after six and the Yanks took advantage, winning the game against the M’s bullpen.

In the seventh, the Yanks scored three to win the game. After Hernandez was pulled after six, Chris Nelson led off the seventh with a single. A WP (Romine K’d) and a walk to Gardner put men on 1st and 2nd, one out, whereupon Robbie Cano (Best Yanks 2B EVER? Better than HOFers Lazzeri and Gordon, not to mention Randolph?) doubled to tie the game. After walks to Wells (intentional) and Granderson, Lyle Overbay got a SF that was the game-winner.

Kelley 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. (W, 2-0, 5.87).

D-Rob the 8th. 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 2.76.

Then the 9th to the G.O.A.T.  (Greatest of All-Time). Mo is now 16 for 16 in saves this year (only 39 games in!) and it’s his 624th all-time. His ERA drops to 1.56.

Some farewell tour at the age of 43. Really.

The Yanks will have some decisions to make soon. What do you do with Overbay once Teix returns? Who do you send down when Joba returns, Claiborne (who’s done well) or Kelley? What happens when Jeter, Youk or A-rod return? David Adams is due up tomorrow. Who goes? Nelson?

Things will be VERY INTERESTING regarding roster moves.

Games 37 & 38. Yanks split a DH behind great pitching.

If I told you that Yankees’ pitchers would give up just one run in a DH, you might think it’d be CC and Kuroda, or Pettitte or Hughes… with Mo and D-Rob in relief.

but would you have thought of Phelps, Nuno and Warren? Probably not.

It’s too bad that the great pitching effort led to just a split of a (rare) traditional DH today rather than a sweep.

Nowadays, you see more of the day/night DHs, two separate admissions, two gates, more $$$$. But with two postponements in April, and both the Yankees and Indians needing to put these two games behind them and get on to their next destinations, it was an old-time 2 for the price of 1 DH.

In game one, David Phelps made just one mistake, and it cost him the game as the Yanks lost 1-0. He gave up a HR to Jason Kipnis in the first inning. Unfortunately, the Yanks only got four hits and three of those were infield singles.

Phelps (L, 1-2, 4.33) 6 2/3, 1 r, 4 H, 5 walks and 7 K.

Logan 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 2.61.

Claiborne 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 1 K. ERA still 0.00.

Corban Joseph made his MLB debut in this game.

Game 2: Vidal Nuno made his 1st MLB start (2nd MLB game) & got his 1st MLB win with five scoreless innings. He’s now pitched eight innings this year for the big club, ERA still 0.00. The Yanks won 7-0.

Nuno 1-0, 0.00   5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 walks and 3K.

Adam Warren finished up the last four innings for his first save. D-Rob and Mo had pitched in four of the previous five games, so for Nuno and Warren to team up on a shutout was huge for saving the bullpen (so was Phelps in a losing effort in game one).

Warren 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 4 K. 1st MLB save, ERA 1.45.

In the first, Nix singled, and went to third on a Cano single and an error. Wells forceout made it 1-0 Yanks.

The Yanks got six in the seventh to break open a close game. Corban Joseph doubled for his first MLB hit. After Alberto Gonzalez popped up a bunt attempt, Austin Romine got his first MLB hit of the season to make it 2-0. Gardner walked and Nix singled to make it 3-0. After Cano struck out, Wells singled to make it 4-0. Overbay then doubled in two, 6-0. Ben Francisco reached on an error, Overbay scoring, for the final of 7-0.

The Yanks now are 24-14 on the season and come home to face Seattle.

The Yanks, between games, brought up Brett Marshall and sent down OF Brennan Boesch. It appears as if the Grandy Man is close to coming back.

The Minors today.

AAA: 7-6 loss for SWB. Emergency starter Kelvin Perez 5 R in 2 IP (scheduled starter Brett Marshall may be activated for the DH tomorrow. Him or infielder Corban Joseph). Mark Montgomery 3 scoreless, 4 K, ERA to 1.45. Curtis Granderson RF, 3 for 5.  Dave Adams 3b, 3-run HR. 1B Dan Johnson HR, 3 RBI. DH Thomas Neal 2 h, .343.

AA: Trenton got shut out 4-0. Jose Ramirez 6 Ip, 3 R, 2 ER, on only 2 H. 0 walks and 9 K. 1B Kyle Roller, 2 doubles, .306.

High A: Tampa off.

Low A: Charleston won 9-8. 1B Rey Nunez 2 H, HR, 4 RBI.

Game 36. Today’s lineup.

The Yanks are in first place by themselves entering today’s ballgame in KC. They are 22-13 and 1 game up. They are three games better than their Pythagorean record. OPS+ 102, ERA+ 112 (100 is average).

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

Gardner CF .259-3-14  5/8  99
Cano 2B .306-9-21  2/2  144
Wells LF .281-8-18  3/4  123
Hafner DH .270-6-18  1/1  149
Suzuki RF .272-2-8  5/6  89
Nix SS .253-1-6  1/1  77
Overbay 1B .263-6-20  0/0  113
Nelson 3B .200-0-2 0/0 39 as Yankee; Overall .231-0-6  0/0  50 (CO/NYY)
Stewart C .232-2-5  2/2  67

Kuroda RHP 4-2, 2.30 ERA+ 179

Yanks DL Nunez, bring up Alberto Gonzalez, move Teix to 60-day DL, meaning we won’t see him until June.

UPDATE: I almost forgot. Happy 88th to #8, the one and only Yogi Berra!

Yanks to promote Adams for 3B

The LOHUD blog reports that

the Yankees are prepared to promote David Adams from Triple-A next week and have him take over the Yankees third base job until Kevin Youkilis comes off the disabled list.

Because of the Yankees 40-man roster crunch, the team released and re-signed Adams at the end of spring training. By putting him through release waivers – rather than designating him for assignment …– the Yankees believed they had a better chance of keeping Adams, and the move worked as Adams cleared waivers and
re-signed.

But the maneuver also left the Yankees unable to bring Adams to the major leagues before May 15. (his 26th birthday, by the way). Adams is a righty bat. As the regular third baseman for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Adams is hitting .314/.404/.477 with six doubles, two home runs and a triple. He has 9 rbi in the 24 games he’s played in (27 for 86). He hit .306-8-48 in 86 games for AA Trenton in 2012. He’s also seen a little bit of time at second base — where he played regularly until late last season — and at first base, adding a bit of versatility. As for who goes down, it would seem either Chris Nelson or Ben Francisco could be DFA candidate to open both a 40-man and 25-man roster spot.

You may remember that Adams was supposed to be included in the trade with Seattle for Cliff Lee but had hurt his ankle, one reason the deal never went through. In his minor league career, Adams has hit .296.

Yankees trade for minor league SS

The Yanks acquired SS Alberto Gonzalez from the Cubs for $$$ or a player to be named later. This is solely to provide some infield depth with all the injuries. You saw some of the problems the other day when Vernon Wells had to play 3B for an inning. Gonzalez can play SS, 2B and 3B.

Gonzalez played in 40 games for the Yanks in 2007 and 2008, hitting .152 with 2 RBI. For his career, he’s a .241 hitter in 916 AB, OPS+ 62. Good glove, no bat. His 162 g. average projects to .241-2-34.

Gonzalez was 5 for 23 for the Cubs this year, 1 HR, 2 RBI in 11 games. He’ll report to AAA SWB. He is a 30 yr. old righty bat.