Yesterday in the minors.

AAA: The Yanks aren’t the only ones off to a slow start. SWB is now 0-3 after losing 7-2 on Saturday. Graham Stoneburner was an emergency starter (Phil Hughes was supposed to make a rehab start here, but was called up to make the Yankees start). Stoneburner gave up 3 R, 2 ER, in 4 IP. Juan Cedeno and Mark Montgomery kept the RailRiders in the game, combining for four scoreless innings, but Jim Miller continued to struggle, giving up 4 runs in the ninth. Miller gave up 5 R in his 1 IP on April 4th, so in 2 innings at AAA so far, he’s giving up 9 runs for an ERA of 40.50.

1B Luke Murton and 3B Addison Maruszak had two hits each—four of the RailRiders’ seven.

AA: Trenton’s game was ppd. due to cold weather.

High A: Tampa lost 8-3. Once again, the BP (see AAA above) didn’t come through. Shane Greene gave up 1 R and struck out 8 in 5 IP, but Joel De La Cruz gave up 2 in 2 IP and Zach Arneson gave up 5, 4 ER in 2/3 IP. LF Ben Gamel was 3 for 5, 1 RBI. C Gary Sanchez 2 for 4, RBI. CF Mason Williams 2 hits and RF Eduardo Sosa 3 hits.

Low A: Charleston had a DH. They split.

Game 1: 9 inn., reg. sched. game: 6-2 win. Rafael DePaula 2 R in 4 1/3, with 11 of the 13 outs via the K. Alex Smith and Charlie Short combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and 6 more K. 3b Dante Bichette, Jr. w/2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI for both C Pete O’Brien and 1B Saxon Butler.

Game 2: 7 inn (make up game from 4/4). An 8-4 loss. Derek Varnadore gave up 5 R, 4 ER in just 2 IP. Five players had 2 or more hits for the Riverdogs. HR: RF Yeicok Calderon.

The minors today.

AAA: SWB lost 8-4. Vidal Nuno, who had a great S.T., gave up 2 R in 4 2/3 IP. He struck out six. Sam Demel, just picked up this week, gave up 1 R in 1 1/3.

Demel is 4-4, 4.95 in his MLB career. He pitched in one game for Arizona last year. Most of his MLB experience came in 2010 & 2011. He is a 27 yr. old righty.

Mark Montgomery pitched a scoreless inning, Juan Cedeno 2/3 scoreless and Preston Claiborne a scoreless 1 1/3.

It was tied at 3 going into the top of the 10th, when Jim Miller imploded, giving up 5 runs in the top of the 10th as SWB lost 8-4.

SWB was 3 for 18 with RISP and left 17 on.

Dave Adams and Corban Joseph each had 2 hits.

AA: Trenton won 13-5. Nik Turley gave up 5, 4 earned, in just 2 2/3 but the BP picked him up. Dan Burawa (1 1/3), Shaeffer Hall (2), Kelvin Perez (2) and Branden Pinder combined for 6 1/3 scoreless IP, 12 K, and NO hits.  J.R. Murphy had a 3-run HR, as did Kyle Roller. Rob Segedin and Neil Medchill also HR’d, and Medchill had 4 RBI for the night.

High A:  Tampa won 7-4.  Bryan Mitchell 1 R in 5 IP. Gary Sanchez 2 H, double, 2 RBI.

Low A: Charleston’s game was ppd.

S.T. Game 32. Yanks beat O’s 11-8

The Yanks beat Baltimore 11-8 tonight to run their S.T. record to 13-18-1.

Mason “Classical Gas” Williams was 1 for 2 with 2 RBI. Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 3 with an RBI. New 1B Lyle Overbay was 2 for 5. Brennan Boesch had a 2-run HR. He and Francisco went back to back. Addison Maruszak and Bobby Wilson each had 2 rbi.

Dave Phelps went 5 1/3, 3 R, 4 H, 2 walks and 9 K. He was great until the 5th.

1 R in 2/3 for Spence, 4 R in 2/3 for Pinder.

Cedeno 1/3 scoreless. Goody and Claiborne each with a scoreless inning.

Hughes will miss his first start of the season, DL. Jeter will not play in  another spring game— even if Minor league — until next week.

Tim McCarver  (who a lot of us don’t like) is packing it in after this season.

S.T. Game 29. Yanks lose to Tigers 10-6

Andy Pettitte pitched three scoreless innings before struggling, and Cody Eppley couldn’t get anyone out as the Yanks lost 10-6 to the Tigers today.

Pettitte went 6 1/3, and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits. He walked one and struck out five. He pitched three scoreless innings, then gave up a run in the fourth and three in the fifth.

Eppley faced five batters and gave up five hits in the seventh. All five batters scored.

Shawn Kelley gave up 1 run in 1 1/3 and Juan Cedeno gave up no runs in 1/3.

Ben Francisco hit 2 HR and drove in 3 runs, Eduardo Nunez had 2 hits and an RBI, and Kevin Youkilis drove in 2. Juan Rivera was 3 for 4.

The wind was blowing out as five HR, and almost a sixth, were hit by the two teams.

Travis Hafner is only hitting .118 this spring. Hopefully (like Ibanez last year) the hits start coming when the season starts.

Dan Johnson may be getting the Matt Diaz-treatment soon (cut). He is at .063 this spring.

Clay Rapada will begin the year on the DL due to bursitis in his pitching shoulder. Meanwhile, Vidal Nuno has had a great spring, has opened eyes and is in the conversation for a second lefty (after Boone Logan) in the bullpen.

S.T. Game 27. Yanks get just one hit in 6-1 loss to Twins, Jeter “shut down”

The Yanks lost 6-1 to the Twins today and most disappointingly, managed just one hit (a single by Cano).

This, on top of being 2-hit by the Phils earlier this week.

The offense worries me. This offense looks weak. Puny weak.

Derek Jeter won’t play in any more MLB S.T. games this spring. This is because if the Yanks need to backlog dates for him being on the D.L., they can backlog to 3/22 if he only plays in minor league games from 3/22 but they cannot use that date for MLB spring games. It is still unknown whether Derek can be ready for the 4/1 Opening Day game. I think not.

So on Opening Day we may see this: No Derek, Teix, Granderson and A-Rod (DL) as well as no Chavez, Swish, Martin or Ibanez (Free Agency).

This may be the weakest Opening Day lineup since say, 1989-1992 (the Green/Dent/Merrill/early Buck days, when the lineup included Alvaro Espinoza, Balboni, Sax, Pat Kelly, Barfield, Hall, Nokes, Geren, Brookens, etc.). Ugh.

Dave Phelps appears to have lost the #5 spot to Nova what with his effort today. He had a great spring up to the last two starts. Today: 5 R in 3 2/3. Juan Cedeno a scoreless 1/3. Mo went 1, a hit, then 3 K. Robertson and Aardsma a scoreless IP each. Logan 1 R in 1 IP, Claiborne a scoreless inning.

Meanwhile, our friends at BBD (Bronx Baseball Daily) report that Joba could be dealt for a young bat. I would love to keep Joba, but the lineup needs help.

Nuno (pitching for D.R) impresses again as Yanks lose 8-2 to D.R.

There are few times that when a member of the opposition does well, it’s a good thing for YOUR team.

Today was one of those rare times. The Yanks lost 8-2 to the Dominican Republic WBC team today, but a couple of players playing for that D.R. team were Yankees.

Robbie Cano played for the D.R. team, and went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

More importantly, Vidal Nuno continued his remarkable ascent. The 25-year-old lefty, who came out of nowhere to have a good year at AA Trenton last year, started for the D.R. team, and threw four scoreless, hitless innings against the Yanks. He is sure making a name for himself to possibly be one of the first (if not the first) pitcher called up if the Yanks need a starter or long man in the mid-season (if he continues to do this at AAA).

Besides giving up no hits or runs in his four innings of work, Nuno walked one and struck out four.

In order for the Dominican team not to burn arms before the World Baseball Classic, the Yanks “loaned” some arms to the D.R. team today. Nuno was one of them.

Another was Juan Cedeno, who threw a scoreless inning. Another was Josh Spence who also threw a scoreless inning.

As for Nuno, in 9 innings this spring, he’s given up 1 R on 2 hits, 3 walks and 13 K. If that doesn’t impress the coaches, what will?

As for the Yankees team, they only got two hits. Zoilo Almonte accounted for their two runs with a HR. Dan Johnson had trouble at third, making two errors.

Hiroki Kuroda started and did well, 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K. Cody Eppley gave up a run in 1 IP. Clay Rapada only lasted 1/3 IP, giving up a run. Jim Miller gave up 3 runs in 1 1/3 IP. Tom Kahnle gave up an unearned run in 1 1/3. Preston Claiborne gave up an unearned run in 1 IP, and Chase Whitley gave up a run in his inning of work.

But good work today by the still surprising Nuno along with Kuroda.

S.T. Game 11. Yanks lose 2-0, Teix shut down.

Mark Teixeira was supposed to play 1b for the U.S. in the WBC. Supposed to.

Instead he goes back to the Yanks, and will be shut down for about 2 weeks due to a sprain in his forearm.

You have to be worried about the injuries. CC, Jeter and Mo are coming off them, while A-Rod, Hughes, Granderson and Teix have them.

…. and that’s not counting GM Brian Cashman.

In tonight’s game, the Yanks lost 2-0 to the Braves. David Phelps pitched well again, but lost. In 9 innings this spring, Phelps has given up just one run.

Tonight Phelps went 4, and gave up 1 r on 2 H. Joba pitched a scoreless inning.

Branden Pinder had a scoreless inning, Mark Montgomery gave up a run in 1/3 IP, and Francisco Rondon pitched an inning and 2/3, scoreless. Rondon, a lefty, has an outside shot at making the team. Shawn Kelley wrapped up with a scoreless inning.

The Yanks managed just five hits, two by the red-hot Gardner. Ichiro, who has had a good spring had one.

One continuing trouble spot is the errors by the prospects. Corban Joseph had two today, and J.R. Murphy one.

The loss drops the Yanks S.T. record to 3-8.

Yanks split squad, but lose both games

The Yanks split the squad today, but lost both games, dropping their spring record to 1-6. It’s worth noting that we haven’t seen CC, Kuroda, Hughes, Nova, Pettitte, Jeter or Rivera yet.

In the road game, the Yanks lost to Houston 7-6. Some good points about the game came from a couple of minor leaguers eager to win the Granderson job while he is out. Zoilo Almonte went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Melky Mesa was 2 for 3 with a 3-run HR. Top prospect Tyler Austin had a triple and scored a run. Matt Diaz went 1 for 3 and drove in a run. In this, and the other game, every candidate for that LF job that Granderson vacated with his injury did well. Even Adonis Garcia had a hit and an RBI in this game.

Brett Marshall started this game. He is probably AAA bound but did a good job, impressing if he needs to be a mid-season call-up. The 22 year old righty was 13-7, 3.52 in AA last year. He pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 3. Dellin Betances, the former top prospect who slipped badly last year, had a scoreless inning and K’d 2, but also showed the wildness that has set him back, walking two. Mikey O’Brien gave up 3 R in 1 1/3 and Shane Greene gave up 4 in only 1/3 IP which led to the loss. Shaeffer Hall and Kelvin Perez each pitched a scoreless inning.

In the home part of the split squad, the Yanks lost 1-0 to Toronto. Dave Phelps, bidding for a starter’s job (esp. since Hughes may not be ready come Opening Day), pitched 3 scoreless innings. David Aardsma pitched a scoreless inning. The Yanks are counting on him, as well as Joba, to fill the 6/7 inning role. Branden Pinder pitched a scoreless inning as did Clay Rapada. Chase Whitley gave up the game’s only run in his inning and a third. Juan Cedeno 2/3 scoreless. Jim Miller a scoreless inning.

The Yanks didn’t score in this game, but Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki continued their hot springs so far by each going 1 for 3. Ronnier Mustelier, in the battle for Granderson’s position, went 1 for 1. Juan Rivera, also fighting for an OF spot, was 2 for 2.

Overall, today was a better day than yesterday, which featured sloppy play. There was some impressive pitching, and the OF candidates all did well.

Now (1-6) to start winning some of these games.

S.T. Game 4. Ichiro 3 for 3 but Yanks lose 4-3.

The Yanks lost to the Phils 4-3, as Zach Nuding gave up three runs on two HR in the seventh. It drops the Yanks S.T. record to 1-3.

Ichiro Suzuki went 3 for 3. In the first, he singled, stole second and scored on a double by Mark Teixeira.

Starter Jose Ramirez (7-6, 3.19 at High A last year, righty, 23 years old) pitched two scoreless innings. David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk. Joba then came in, a scoreless inning, one hit, 2 K. Juan Cedeno a scoreless inning.

The Phils tied the game with a run off Jim Miller in the sixth.

The Yanks went up 3-1 in the seventh when J.R. Murphy, who was 2 for 2 for the day, hit a 2-run HR. Murphy, 21, is a catcher who between High A/AA last year hit .248-9-44. He’ll probably begin this year at AA.

Nuding, a 22 y.o. righty, was 9-3, 3.51 between the Gulf Coast Rookie League and High A Tampa last year. He got a groundout, then Domonic Brown hit a HR off him. After another groundout, Cody Asche doubled and Tommy Joseph homered for the final margin. 3 R in his one inning of work.

Branden Pinder pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two.

The Yanks had a chance to tie it in the ninth. With two out, Murphy doubled and moved to third on a single by Walt Ibarra. Cito Culver flied out to end the game.

S.T. Game 2. Yanks lose game, Granderson.

How quickly things change.

The Yankees opened the home part of their exhibition season with a lineup of regulars, save for recuperating Derek Jeter (who is expected to get into a game as a DH around March 10th). They also started the experiment of Granderson in LF and Gardner in CF.

So much for the experiment. In the bottom of the first, Granderson was HBP in his first at bat of spring training. The pitch broke a bone in his forearm and Granderson, who despite hitting just .232 last year with 195 strikeouts did hit 43 HR with 106 RBI, is out until probably the end of May. They are saying 10 weeks. Give another two weeks of rehab and we are looking at something close to Memorial Day.

A-Rod out for at least 1/2 the year, maybe all year. Granderson out for 1/3 of this year. Swisher gone to Cleveland, Ibanez to Seattle and Martin to Pittsburgh. Chavez to Arizona. That’s 125 HR either gone to another team or out for a considerable time. 125.

Ugh. This lineup could start to resemble those early 1970s lineups that had nothing past Roy White, Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer.

As for today’s game, the Yanks got 11 hits and pitched well, but left 13 on in losing to Toronto 2-0.

Kevin Youkilis made his debut in pinstripes and went 0 for 2. He hit the ball hard, and almost had a grand slam in his first at bat.

All hits were singles except for a Travis Hafner double.

Adam Warren pitched two scoreless innings. He was 7-8, 3.71 for AAA last year. He did have one start for the Yanks last year, going 0-0, 23.14 (6 R in 2 1/3).

Cody Eppley took the loss, giving up one run in one inning. Matt Daley (1), Francisco Rondon (1 1/3) and Preston Claiborne (1 2/3) combined for four scoreless innings. Juan Cedeno gave up a run in his inning of work and Jim Miller finished up with a scoreless inning.

But forget the game score loss. The loss of Granderson hurts far more. It opens the door up for a vet (Diaz/Rivera) or a youngster (Mesa/Almonte).

That or Cashman will have to work the phones.