Salazar, who played for the 1984 pennant winning San Diego Padres, was leaning on the railing at the top of the dugout when he was struck. Thankfully, no brain damage occurred, but his left eye was removed Tuesday after undergoing three surgeries in attempt to save it.

AL East

Baltimore: What would a season be without Brian Roberts having some kind of physical issue? This spring it’s been his back acting up after a head first slide into 1st base tweaked something. Buck Showalter told MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli that Roberts has a 50/50 chance of playing this weekend.  First year Oriole Derrek Lee has yet to see game action due to tendinitis in his right wrist, but may also play this weekend. Pitcher Koji Uehara (sore elbow) is scheduled for a bullpen session, while catcher Craig Tatum’s fight to be the back up to Matt Wieters continues to be delayed by a sore oblique. Free agent pick up Justin Duchscherer is still a couple of days away from throwing as he continues to recover from hip surgery.

Boston: J.D. Drew was considering retirement earlier this year, but his nagging left hamstring inury feels great now and he’s ready to split outfield time with Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron.

New York: Joba Chamberlain is out indefinitely, but Sergio Mitre has begun to throw again after both suffered strained obliques. Francisco Cervelli has, for the moment at least, lost the back up catching job after he fractured his foot on March 2. He’ll be out until mid-April.

Tampa Bay: Reliever J.P. Howell is not expected back in the majors until May as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery. Shortstop Reid Brignac missed some time last week with a sore groin, but is back in action. Jeremy Hellickson finally pitched in a game last Friday after missing time with a bad hammy.

Toronto: It’s slow and steady for possible closer Frank Francisco after his right pec tightened up on him while throwing. Having thrown in only two games this spring it is not likely Francisco will be ready for the season opener. That means Jon Rauch or Jason Frasor could open the season as closer. New manager John Farrell told the Toronto Sun, “While warming up in his last scheduled outing he felt some tightness in his right pec. He came in yesterday, threw long toss and another 15 pitches off the mound. He improved as far as the feeling goes but we’re going to work him through some long toss and continue on the flat ground.”

“We feel like if we can get him three or four games (additional) before we leave camp he’ll be fine. He’s not overly concerned or overly alarmed. He feels this is a spring training aches and pains type thing that he’s going through. The red flag is not up per se with Frankie.” The Blue Jays could also be without reliever Octavio Dotel who has been shutdown with a bad hamstring. Farrell also announced that former starter Dustin McGowan will work out of the bullpen when, and if, he’s ready to come back from a pair of shoulder surgeries. The one time highly regarded prospect hasn’t thrown in a Major League game since 2008. 2nd Baseman Aaron Hill has been slowed by a quad injury, but should be ready for opening day.

AL Central

Chicago: Jake Peavy continues his come back from last year’s surgery to repair a torn latissimus dorsi muscle.  After his last start on Monday, Peavy told ESPN.com’s Doug Padilla that he would be ready to go when the season starts. He may miss his next start though with a virus. Dayan Viciedo suffered a broken thumb when he was hit by a pitch on March 10 and is likely out a month.

Cleveland: Grady Sizemore hopes to make his spring training game debut this weekend or Monday. Sliding is the final piece of the puzzle in his recovery from microfracture knee surgery. Since that’s how he hurt the knee, he is concerned. “It’s probably the last thing we’re going to try out,” Sizemore told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. “Obviously, it’s a little bit of a concern — since that’s how I hurt it, and the fact that it’s the leg that I’ll be landing on. We’ll want to do what we can to protect that in any way we can.”

Catching sensation Carlos Santana seems to be full recovered from his left knee surgery, but the Tribe is playing it cautious just the same.  It has included playing Santana at 1st base, something the The Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes spoke to manager Manny Acta about. “It’s all about Carlos getting more at bats,” said manager Manny Acta. “We wanted get him as many at bats as possible, but with him coming back from surgery, you can’t throw him back behind the plate every day.

Outfielder Trevor Crowe has been bothered by a fatigued rotator cuff all spring, but hopes to test it out by throwing tomorrow. The injury has already cost him an extra outfield spot on the Major League roster. Pitcher Anthony Reyes made his spring debut this week after having Tommy John surgery back in 2009.

Detroit: The Tigers official website reported Monday that both infielder/outfielder Carlos Guillen and reliever Joel Zumaya will start the season on the DL. Guillen is still recovering from knee surgery, while Zumaya has been slow in coming back from elbow surgery.

Kansas City: Jason Kendall continues his rehab from off-season right shoulder surgery; he’s played in a couple of games, but is likely to start the season on the DL.

Minnesota: Closer Joe Nathan continues his comeback from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He’s appeared in six spring games so far, and although the results have not been good (5.1 IP 6 H 6 ER), he’s feeling good. If Nathan’s struggles continue into the regular season, manager Ron Gardenhire will simply go to Matt Capps to close. 1st Baseman Justin Morneau is seeing regular time after returning from lingering concussion symptoms. Catcher Joe Mauer appeared in his first spring game yesterday as the DH after sitting out due to off-season left knee surgery. The Twins M&M boys are expected to be ready to go on opening day.

Michael Cuddyer could play in his first spring game tomorrow after having a wart removed from his foot three weeks ago.

AL West

Los Angeles: Free agent Scott Downs was supposed to bolster the Angels bullpen, but he’s out indefinitely after breaking his toe on Saturday. The injury occurred while he was playing with his kids. 1st baseman Kendry Morales, who infamously broke his leg last season after hitting a game winning home run, has yet to play in a game this season. In fact, he’s yet to run the bases and is not likely to be ready for opening day. “He’s going to get his work in here and tomorrow he’s back out there on the progression,” Mike Scioscia told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett on Wednesday. “He’s moving forward. He still has some things he has to do before he gets in games and running the bases is one of them.”

Oakland: A’s closer and former AL Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey is out indefinitely with a strained elbow. Bailey left Monday’s game in excruciating pain and paid a visit to renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Bailey and the A’s were relieved to find out it was just scar tissue that was causing the pain and the reliever should be able to begin throwing again next week. It’s unknown though if he’ll be ready for the season opener. If that’s the case, manager Bob Geren would use Brian Fuentes as closer.

Oft-injured Rich Harden has been out with a strained lat, but according to the SF Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, is scheduled to resume throwing tomorrow. Harden will start the season on the DL as will infielder Adam Rosales who is out until May after having foot surgery. Lefty specialist Craig Breslow is also questionable for opening day as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Seattle: Closer David Aardsma has thrown on flat ground three times in his rehab from hip surgery, but has yet to step on a mound. Brandon League is expected to be the interim Mariners closer once the season start, though skipper Eric Wedge hasn’t announced his decision. New starting catcher Miguel Olivo missed two weeks with a strained groin, but caught a bullpen session yesterday, and barring a setback, should be ready for the M’s opener. Lefty Nate Robertson will be out a month after hvaing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow yesterday.

Texas: Nothing significant to note; a nice way to start 2011 for the defending AL champions.

Drew Sarver is a senior writer  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

Since Pettitte’s return to New York prior to the 2007 season, he’s taken his time each off season to decide whether or not to return the following season. Since the 2010 season ended, Pettitte seemed to be heavily leaning towards calling it quits. Conversations with manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman gave every indication that the chances of Pettitte’s return for 2011 was less than 50%.

Pettitte finishes his career with a 240-138, 3.88 mark after playing in New York from 1995-2005, followed by three seasons in front of his hometown crowd  in Houston, Texas, and a return to New York in 2007. His four years back in the Bronx included his 5th World Series ring in 2009.

Pettitte finishes with 203 wins as a Yankee, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) in franchise history. His 1,823 strikeouts were 133 behind the franchise leader Ford. His overall numbers and post-season success make him a viable Hall of Fame candidate, but his admitted use of HGH will probably keep him from being seriously considered.

Pettitte’s retirement also means the Yankees only have three guaranteed spots in their rotation- CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and A.J. Burnett. The final two spots will be determined in spring training. Among the candidates are Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Sergio Mitre, any and all prospects, and whomever the Yankees can sign between now and opening day.

We wish you the best in retirement Andy Pettitte. You always carried yourself with class even when you proved you were human.

Update 2:40 pm – An official press conference will be held at Yankee Stadium tomorrow morning at 10:30 am and will be viewable on the YES Network channel and the MLB official website.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and a contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

2010 Season record: 90-59

The final six games of the Yankees nine game road trip began in much the same manner the entire trip did- on the wrong side of the ledger.  After being swept by the Rangers in three games in Texas the Yankees headed to Tampa Bay for a big AL East showdown with the Rays.  After that it would be on to Baltimore to play the suddenly resurgent Orioles before heading home to face the Rays in the last homestand of the season.

Not every game is worth the price of admission, but the series opener in Tampa Bay was worth it and more.  A match up of Cy Young favorites CC Sabathia and David Price lived up to it’s hype.  The two matched zeroes for eight innings before turning things over to the bullpen.

Both teams had just four hits, but it was the last one that counted most.  Reid Brignac, who entered the game in the 10th after Carl Crawford was ejected, led off the bottom of the 11th with a game winning home run off of Sergio Mitre.  The win temporarily vaulted Tampa Bay over the Yankees and into first place in the AL East by a half-game.

There was no pitcher’s duel in site as the two teams met on Tuesday night.  The Yankees jumped all over Rays starter Matt Garza for a 6-0 lead behind home runs from Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano.  But rookie starter Ivan Nova got hammered in the 5th before he could qualify for the win.  Things then went from bad to worse; up 6-4 with two men aboard, Boone Logan served up a 3-run gopher ball to pinch-hitter Willy Aybar to put the Rays in front for the first time.

The Yankees still had a dog in the fight though and Cano quickly tied things up in the 6th with an RBI double.  Jorge Posada’s home run put the Yankees ahead in the 10th and led to a dramatic finish.  Carl Crawford led off the Rays’ half of the inning with a single off Mariano Rivera and stole second base with one away.  Matt Joyce lofted a lazy fly to shallow right that Greg Golson gloved and then  fired a laser beam one hopper to nail a surprised Crawford as he tried to tag up and advance to third.  Rodriguez made a nice scoop of the ball and tag for a game ending double play.  Just that quickly the Yankees were back in first place.  But how long would it last?

The series finale pitted Phil Hughes against “Big Game” James Shields, whose nickname only seemed to apply to games against the Yankees in 2010.  It continued Wednesday night when Shields, who had already beaten the Bombers twice this season, held them to one run over 6.1 innings.

Dan Johnson’s 2-run home run had given the Rays a 2-1 lead, but Curtis Granderson put the Yankees on top in the 7th when he launched a 2-run home run of his own.  The play was set up by a faked hit by pitch by Derek Jeter that made the rally possible.  Hughes was pitching one of his better games in a while, but Johnson came up and bit him again in the home half of the 7th, drilling another 2-run home run for a 4-3 lead that the Rays would not relinquish.

The Yankees arrived at Camden Yards back in second place with the Buck Showalter revived Orioles waiting for them.  The O’s had taken 2 of 3 from the Yankees at home the prior week and were just a 9th inning Nick Swisher home run away from a sweep.

Despite a strong outing from A.J. Burnett, who was sporting an unexplained black eye and swollen cheek, the Yankees’ malaise continued.  Home runs by Adam Jones and Robert Andino had given the Orioles a 3-1 lead entering the 9th inning.  Koji Uehara, who had surrendered Swisher’s game winner at Yankee Stadium, was brought in to close things out.  But Posada led off with a single and one batter later Granderson singled as well.  Uehara got a big out by getting Mark Teixeira to pop out for the second out of the inning, setting up a showdown with Rodriguez.

The Orioles and their fans though the game was over when A-Rod took a strike two pitch that just missed inside.  Given new life, the active career home run leader added to his total with a go-ahead 3-run blast into the left field seats.  Rivera took the O’s down in order in the 9th for a 4-3 win, that coupled with Tampa Bay’s loss to the Angels, put the Pinstriped crew once again into first place.

The middle game of the series was all about redemption with a personal boost for Yankees starter CC Sabathia.  The Yankees ace had one of his worst outings at home against the Orioles on 9/7, but this time pitched more like the Sabathia that was on the mound in Tampa.  The Yankees offense busted out of their slump with an 11 run output, that included home runs by Cano and Granderson, to help Sabathia pick up his 20th win for the first time in his major league career.  Final, Yankees 11 Orioles 3.

The Yankees went for the sweep on Sunday and appeared to be in good shape as Andy Pettitte made his first major league start since injuring his groin on July 18.  The southpaw looked as sharp as ever, limiting the Orioles to three hits over six innings and left the game with a 3-1 lead.

But after the Orioles cut the lead to 3-2, red hot Luke Scott hit a solo home run off Rivera in the 9th to send the game to extra innings.  The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, but Mike Gonzalez got Lance Berkman to bounce into an inning ending double play.  The Orioles’ offense then took advantage against David Robertson.  Scott led off the bottom of the 11th with a double and quickly came home with the winning run when Ty Wiggington followed with a single to right-center.

The road trip finished 3-6 instead of 4-5, but the Yankees remained in first place after Tampa Bay lost to Los Angeles for the second time in three days.

Pinstriped Positives:

Despite having a very un-Derek Jeter like season, the Yankees captain topped 100 runs scored for the 13th time in his career and ended the road trip with an eight game hitting streak.

Kerry Wood continues to impress; since acquisition at the trade deadline, the hard throwing right-hander has allowed just one earned run in 23 innings pitched.

Alex Rodriguez was 11-33 (.333) on the nine game road swing with three home runs and 11 RBI.

Negatives:

Injuries have taken a toll on first baseman Mark Teixeira.  The always smiling Maryland native had been on a tear in the second half, but injured his thumb diving in Chicago on 8/29 and two days later broke his pinky toe when he was hit by a pitch against the A’s.  Teixeira has hit just .194 in the month of September and has slugged at just a .226 clip.

Mariano Rivera was suddenly human on the road trip, blowing two saves after converting 11 straight opportunities since July 4.  Though he would never use it as an excuse, Rivera hasn’t seemed quite right since manager Joe Girardi used him for two innings on 9/10 and brought him back the very next night.

What’s Next:

The Yankees finish up the season with their final homestand before hitting the road for the last time during the regular season.  They go head to head with Tampa Bay for four games before hosting Boston for a weekend trio of games.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

In Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, then-Red Sox manager Grady Little used a tired Pedro Martinez to protect the lead in the  eighth inning.  That decision backfired when the Yankees scored three runs to tie the game at five.  Red Sox went on to lose the game and the series in the 11th inning, and Little eventually lost his job.

In Game 2 of the 2004 Division Series, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire used a tired Joe Nathan to close down the Yankees for a save. Nathan pitched 2 1/3 innings to keep the game tied at 5, but he was done when he was closing. The Twins hoped they could get by with him, but that didn’t work as the Yankees hit him and scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning. They were better off using a fresh arm to close the game.

On Monday night, Rays manager Joe Maddon decided to use Matt Garza to keep the game tied at 4 in the sixth inning.  That move turned out to be bad. Garza allowed three straight hits, and the Yankees scored a run to regain the lead. After that, Maddon finally changed the pitcher.

Maybe if Maddon started the game with a new reliever, the game would likely be tied instead of a big inning. That big inning in the sixth paved the way to a 8-6 victory by the Yankees.

Simply put, Garza had no business starting the sixth inning. It was a curious move when he was pitching in that inning. The thought was Maddon would go with a different guy out there, but it did not happened.

It is curious to see why the Rays manager forgot to do that. This is a bad managerial move to say the least. This opens up to ridicule.

If Maddon was managing in New York, people would scrutinize it to the nth degree. Fortunatly for Maddon, he is managing in a market that does not get fired up with wins and losses.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wish he had it that good. Folks savaged him for using Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin in a scoreless game against the Rays last week. If the Yankees lost Monday night, he would have been called out for using Gaudin in the sixth inning. Gaudin lost control of his pitches, and the Rays eventually tied the game at 4 in that inning.

Fortunately for Girardi, Maddon bailed his counterpart out.

Garza struggled in his third consecutive start. The Yankees started to hit him around in the third inning. They scored two runs in that inning, and scored another two in the fifth inning.

He was in jams in the third, fourth and fifth inning. At one point, Maddon had Lance Cormier warming up in the fifth. After Garza finished the fifth inning by giving up two more runs, that should have been the end of his night.

The Rays made it a new game by scoring four runs in the sixth inning. Ivan Nova pitched well until the Rays got him in that inning. Girardi tried to protect the lead by using Boone Logan and Gaudin to get that elusive last out, but he had no sucess.

This was were a new pitcher should have been used. Why did Maddon think Garza had it in him to pitch one more inning?

There is no question Maddon does not trust any reliever besides Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano. With that said, Jeremy Hellickson would have been the right choice.

The Rays want to use Hellickson as a long man in the playoffs. September should serve as an audition for him to be use in this spot.  If Maddon does not trust him, there is no point for him to be in the postseason roster.

The Rays’ phenom may be going through some tough times, but he is better than what the Rays have in relief.

If Maddon was using Garza in a tie game to get himself back on track, it was a terrible move. Now is not the time for a struggling starter to figure it out. In September, games have to be won. Experimenting guys should only take place in the first few months of the season.

It would be one thing to let David Price work out his struggles in a game. Price has the capita to earn the benefit of the doubt.

No one can say that about Garza. The guy has been issuing walks and hits like a guy who is giving out free candy to kids. He demonstrated he is not getting better anytime soon.

What has he done to earn Maddon’s trust?

In a big series like this, this is not the time to make dumb managerial moves. Such moves like that can cripple a team. Fortunately, the Rays are a strong-minded team. They will be okay after this loss.

It is just that the Rays can not afford to make a dumb move or play bad ball in the first game of the series.

The first game of the series sets the tone of what could happen in a four-game set. The Yankees can win Tuesday night and be in a position to win the series by winning one more.

The Rays needed to win the first game more than the Yankees. They needed to go take the life of the crowd for the rest of the series. It could have happen here.

After the Rays tied it up, odds are they would have taken the lead eventually and maybe win it. It sure seemed like everyone expected a new reliever could have made it happen.

Only Maddon had other ideas. No one saw this move coming, and that is why it’s easy to second-guess. One does not need to be a baseball wonk in realizing using a struggling starter was not the way to go.

The Yankees are thankful Maddon made this choice, and they should be.

After watching three exhilarating games between both teams at Tropicana Field this week, baseball can not have enough of both teams facing each other.

It may not be Yankees-Red Sox, but it does not mean it is unwatchable. If anything, Yankees-Rays is better than watching that age-old rivalry.

When the Yankees and the Rays play each other, it is entertaining. It is rare both teams get outplayed when they play each other. Players find a way to step up, and both teams can come back to tie it after falling behind.

Count on good pitching when both teams play each other. That is a good thing. It makes the game watchable, and it reveals who come out strong in a tight game.

These three games exemplified why this series should be appreciated.

On Monday night, it was about pitching. CC Sabathia and David Price engaged in a pitching duel for eight innings. Not surprisingly, both drew no-decisions. It came down to the bullpen, and that’s where the Rays beat the Yankees.

The Rays used their best relievers while Joe Girardi decided to use his middle relievers in extra innings. The results were not an accident. Reid Brignac hit a game-winning home run off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre to give the Rays a 1-0 victory.

One wondered how the game would fare if Girardi would use David Robertson or Joba Chamberlain in extra innings. It probably would keep the game scoreless, which is why Yankees fans questioned Girardi’s decision.

The Yankees manager explained he wanted to rest his best relievers after overusing them lately. From this writer’s perspective, that explanation came off lame. This was a case of him trying to prove what a genius he is by showing faith in his obscure relievers.

On Tuesday night, it was a slugfest. Ivan Nova started for the Yankees and Matt Garza started for the Rays. Neither pitchers pitched well, and they did not last long in that game. The Yankees scored six runs, but the Rays scored seven runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-6 lead.The Yankees came back to tie it at 7 in the sixth inning on Robinson Cano’s home run.

That game ended in extra innings again. Jorge Posada hit a game-winning home run in the tenth inning, but the Rays could have tied it if Carl Crawford did not run to third. Greg Golson threw the ball to Rodriguez, who tagged Crawford out to end the game.

On Wednesday night, it was about resilience.  The Yankees took a 1-0 lead, but the Rays responded with a two-run home run by Dan Johnson to take a 2 -1 lead. The Yankees regained the lead on a two-run blast by Curtis Granderson, which made it a 3-2 game. The Rays received another two-run dinger by Johnson to retake the lead at 4-3.

In boxing terms, both teams traded blows. In the end, it was the Rays that won the battle and won the war for this series.

It could have been easy for the Rays to be deflated after Derek Jeter tricked the umpire about being hit by pitch, which set the stage for Granderson to hit his home run. Whoever thought that has no clue about that team. There are always guys who find a way to get some runs after falling behind. They have done it all year, so there is no reason to think it should change now.

It is not an accident that both teams played each other well.  The Rays are 8-6 over the Yankees this season, and prior to this weekend series, the Rays took a 6-5 series lead. Games could have went either way. The Yankees had their chances to take the series lead this year.

When one looks at this matchup, it seems like it is a destiny both teams would face each other in the American League Championship Series.

They are the top two teams in baseball with due respect for the Twins and the Rangers. Despite injuries and struggles, both teams keep winning. It is not surprising both teams can not create a distance where they would get a breathing room in the division.

Both teams win almost every day. It says a lot about the talent and leadership. There is also something to be said about magic. Good things always seem to happen to them.

With the way both teams played each other all year, it would be a disappointment if they do not play each other in the second round.

The Yankees and the Rays feature drama that the Twins and the Rangers can not provide. Championship series should be about strong teams playing for a championship. It should not feature a team that got hot at the right time.

What is scary is both teams are capable of losing in the first round. The Yankees are going through injuries while the Rays do not have a deep starting rotation they used to enjoy. This could be problematic in a short series.

Here is another problem. For everyone anointing the Yankees and the Rays to the playoffs, the Red Sox showed they are not done just yet. They could crash in the postseason by going on a run that the Rockies are right now.

The Red Sox are six 1/2 games back in the division and six games in the wild card. Keep in mind the Red Sox have couple of meetings against the Yankees this month, so there is a good chance they could gain some games.

There is no question they received a boost after taking two of three against the Rays at Fenway last week.

It is going to be tough, but do not tell that to the Red Sox. They will not be fazed from that.

Next week’s Yankees-Rays matchup should tell who will win the division and who will fight out for the wild-card. Whoever takes three of four will have an edge to win the American League East.

Expect four games to live up to the hype. After all, why should it change now?

The hope is this is not the final time the Rays face the Yankees this year. What our national pastime needs is another serving of both teams in October.

Somehow, baseball fans will not have a problem with it.

They both use sabermetrics  to figure out who is going to play on a given night. They pride themselves by not being outworked by the other manager.

Too much has been made about this type of stuff. Players dictate who wins the game more than managers often times than not.

Monday night was an aberration. This game came down to managing. It was about which manager would use the right guy in relief.

Joe Maddon used Rafael Soriano, Joaquin Benoit and Grant Balfour. Girardi used Kerry Wood, Boone Logan, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre.

Soriano, Benoit and Balfour did their job by not giving up a run. Wood and Logan kept the game scoreless.

Gaudin struggled in the tenth inning by falling behind the count and loading up the bases, but Brad Hawpe bailed Gaudin out by striking out to end the inning.

Girardi changed the pitcher in the eleventh inning, but he used the wrong guy. He inserted Mitre to pitch in that  inning, and Reid Brignac hit the game-winning home run to give the Rays a 1-0 victory.

It was wrong to use Mitre in that inning. David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera were the right guys in that spot. Please spare this nonsense that they were not available.

In divisional showdowns, a manager should always use his best relievers in a tie game. That is what Maddon did. He used his closer and his setup guy to give the Rays a chance to win.

Now, he is doing this out of necessity. Besides Soriano, Benoit and Balfour, most of the Rays relievers are not good. The Rays knew they could not extend the extra innings any longer they should have.

Why did Girardi not get that concept? Maybe he does not know the Rays well, but any manager should use the best guys that can shut the Rays down. There is no question Robertson or Chamberlain would extend the game, and maybe the Yankees can muster in a run in the twelfth.

This was mind-boggling to say the least. This reeks of Girardi trying to be smart. There is no question he would have praised himself for saving Chamberlain or Rivera if the game went any longer. After all, this is a manager who acts like he invented the game of baseball.

Predictably, the Yankees manager acted defensive when several media members questioned his decision. That is the way he behaves if someone second-guesses him.

Girardi claimed he did not want to ride his best relievers. It appeared he does not want to take this game seriously. This is a bad approach, and it is insulting to the Rays that he would not take his team’s showdown with them seriously.

It is imperative that either team win as many games as possible in this two-week showdown. Whoever wins much will win the American League East. Winning the division matters a lot because that team will get home-field advantage in the American League playoffs.

It would behoove either the Yankees or the Rays to go play Game 7 at enemy territory. The Rays do not want to go play in the Bronx to determine their World Series hopes, and there is no question the Yankees  do not want to be in the position to play at Tropicana Field.

Maddon did this correctly. His best chance to win was to use his closer and his setup guy before he use others. Rest assured, he would be called out if he used Randy Choate, Andy Sonnanstine,  Chad Qualls, and Lance Cormier before he used his best relievers.

This is how a manager should do it. On a great night by his starter, the job of the manager is to go out and do whatever it takes to win that game. It is the least he can do.

David Price and CC Sabathia pitched great in a game their respective teams needed them to win. They came through by getting strikes and making quick work out of their opponents. When both guys showed signs of tiring out, they managed to get the outs they needed.

It would have been devastating for either starter had his team lost that one.

Price may not have gotten the victory, but he is glad his team won the game on his effort. Sabathia not only did not get the win, but his work was wasted after this loss.

Sabathia should be ticked off at his manager for having nothing to show for it.

It is rare managerial decisions determine who is in first place, but on this night, it did.

Pettitte’s injury, which is expected to keep him out of action for 4-5 weeks, compounded an already-difficult situation for Cashman, who knows he must retool the current bullpen if the Yankees are to repeat in 2010.

Had a deal with Seattle  for Cliff Lee fallen into place, there would have been no worries concerning the starting rotation.  But with A.J. Burnett’s continued ineffectiveness and inconsistency, there is some reason for alarm.  For now, Sergio Mitre will take Pettitte’s turn in the rotation.  Though he has looked decent at times, neither he nor the likes of Chad Gaudin, Dustin Moseley, etc., are pitchers you’d want to rely on for any length of time.

Let’s start this off by saying Brian Cashman will not do anything crazy. No deal for Roy Oswalt and the $23 million that remains on his contract.  No deal that includes prospect Jesus Montero for a back-end of the rotation starter.

But Cashman can start to look more seriously at Ted Lilly (though ESPN reported Sunday night that the Cubs were asking for Montero) and others.  How pressing the need is will be determined by how Pettitte is feeling as the trade deadline approaches.

Here’s a look at the starters and relievers that could be available by the July 31st trade deadline:

Starters

Roy Oswalt – As  previously mentioned, the Astros’ soon-to-be all-time leading winner (he’s one victory behind Joe Niekro) has a contract that will scare most teams away.  Oswalt, who turns 33 in August, is owed the remainder of $15 million this season and $16 million in 2011.  There’s also a $16 million option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout.

It’s doubtful the Astros will get much back for him until the 2011 deadline.  Certainly not a top tier prospect if the Astros want the their trade partner to assume a large chunk of Oswalt’s contract.

Dan Haren – When Haren was dealt to Arizona, the Dbacks had to send top prospect Brett Anderson and current NL star Carlos Gonzalez and four others (Arizona also received Connor Robertson) to Oakland. The current version of Haren might be had for a song.  That’s how bad he’s been this season.

Haren has allowed a whopping 155 hits in 133 innings.  His strikeout (133) to walk (27) ratio is still remarkable, but that doesn’t really matter when opponents are hitting .287 against you.

Haren’s been better of late – a 3.69 ERA over his last 9 starts – but his contract is a major sticking point.  He’ll received $12.75 million over each of the next two years and there is a club option for 2013 worth $15.5 million (with a $3.5 million buyout).  Had this been a previous incarnation of Haren, perhaps he wouldn’t even be available.  But with his current performance, his contract is too rich for my blood and probably the Yankees’ too.

Ben Sheets – Mr. Moneyball, Billy Beane took a $10 million shot on the oft-injured right-hander in hopes of getting a big pay day at the trade deadline.  So far the move has backfired.  Sheets, who missed all of last season as he recouperated from elbow surgery, has pitched better of late, but most of his outings are of the 6-inning, 4-earned run variety.  And of course he is always a major risk for injury.

Ted Lilly – The one-time Yankee prospect blossomed once he left the organization in 2002.  Lilly has averaged nearly 15 wins in each of his last four years as a member of the Chicago Cubs and is set to become a free agent after the season.

As a left-hander, he would be a good fit into the rotation which is now down to one southpaw due to Pettitte’s injury. Don’t look for a live fastball though. Lilly has been clocked routinely at just 86-mph.  He’ll be paid $13 million for this season.

Kevin Millwood & Jeremy Guthrie – The Baltimore duo have completely hurt their trade value over the last two months.  Millwood allowed 37 earned runs in 32 innings before landing on the DL in early July with a strained forearm. Guthrie has pitched to a 5.67 ERA in his last 9 starts.   STAY AWAY.

Brett Myers – Oswalt’s teammate in Houston is working on a one year, $5 million deal that includes a mutual option in 2010.  The 30-yr old has put up a 3.35 ERA in 19 starts this season after missing much of last year.  Myers has some anger issues and I wonder if he can handle playing in New York. (Playing in Philly was a different kind of crazy.)

Tom Gorzelanny – The “other” Cubbie lefthander has pitched to a career best 3.12 ERA in 19 appearances, 13 of which were starts, and has 81 strikeouts in 80.2 innings pitched.  Gorzelanny throws 88-92 mph and has held right-handed hitters to a .228 batting average.  Control has been an issue at times.  He should come cheaper than Lilly.

Scott Kazmir, Jarrod Washburn, Pedro Martinez – Let me know when I can stop laughing.

Relievers

Scott Downs – The Toronto Blue Jays left-hander is in high demand.  He’s a Mike Stanton type that can get out both lefties and righties, and when needed, can close.  Toronto will certainly look to rip a team off, especially one in their own division.

David Aardsmaa – The Mariners closer has been frequently mentioned as being available. That doesn’t mean he necessarily is available though.  Aardsmaa had a breakout season in 2009 when he recorded 38 saves, held opponents to a .190 batting average, and posted a 2.25 ERA.   It had to be a suprise to the White Sox and Red Sox with whom Aardsmaa had posted ERAs of 6.40 and 5.55 the previous two seasons.

The reason to deal Aardsmaa now is that his trade value will never be higher. His ERA has climbed back up to 5.22 and he’s 0-6.  Aardsma has also already matched his 2009 total of four blown saves.

Brandon League – People like to mention Aardsma’s teammate a lot because of how hard he throws, but League is not a significant upgrade over what the Yankees currently have on the major and minor league rosters.

Leo Nunez -  The Marlins closer has been outstanding in his second full season in Florida.   Nunez has 22 saves in 27 attemps and has a 4.5 to 1 K:BB ratio.   He will not come cheaply, however.

Always a plus, Nunez has American League experience, when he was a member of a surprisingly strong 2008 KC Royals pen.

Brad Ziegler – The sidewinder is a solid righty specialist.  The Yankees could do better than to get someone who is just a specialist.

Kevin Gregg, Jason Frasor, Shawn Camp – Downs’ teammates in Toronto. From left to right – Wouldn’t touch him with a 10 ft. pole, wouldn’t touch him with a 5 ft. pole, wouldn’t touch him with a 1 ft. pole.

Okay, but seriously folks.  Gregg can’t be trusted with a lead, period.  Frasor’s story is similar to Aardsma’s- a breakout 2009 season and  a great job as a late season closer.  But he’s returned to his 4+ ERA form this season.  Camp is decent, but he’s not a significant upgrade from who the Yankees can run out there now on a daily basis.

Jonathan Albaladejo – Yes, he’s already on the Yankees, but he’ll get another chance when he’s recalled today to take Pettitte’s spot on the 25 man roster.  After some mediocre to bad cups of coffees in the show, Albaladejo (boy, that name really doesn’t roll off the tongue) has been dominant at Triple-A Scranton.

Albaladejo has recorded 31 saves while posting a 0.96 ERA and struck out 61 batters in 46.2 innings pitched.  But tha is in Triple-A, and Albaladejo will need to step up his major league game in order to stick around this time.  He will most certainly get the chance in late inning situations if that is the case.

So there you have it.  As the trade deadline nears, others will become available.  But because there are so many teams still in the race, there will be players (e.g. Bobby Jenks) who will stick with their current teams when they might otherwise have become available.

For Brian Cashman it will be a process… and steady as she goes.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

Last night’s loss to the Detroit (5-4) was obviously frustrating to Yankees followers. Spot starter Sergio Mitre was far from fantastic, but he wasn’t horrendous either. An Alex Rodriguez throwing error led to two early runs, one of which was earned. Mitre is not part of the regular rotation and does all right as a long man in the pen. He’s not going to be the guy to make or break the team.

Boone Logan failed miserably in a big spot. There’s no excuse for walks to batters who don’t deserve to be pitched around. If he continues in that vein, he’ll be gone.

Marcus Winn, Randy Thames, Winn Thames…no matter how you combine their names, you really can’t put a good ball player together between them at this point in their careers. Thames has good power, but has never hit for average and his outfield skills..well, outfield and skills should not be used in the same sentence when it comes to Marcus Thames.

Winn was a good player. He is still a decent outfielder, but the speed left his bat a long time ago. Obviously, neither one of them would be getting many at-bats if not for the injuries to Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson. But the lineup and defense is still deep enough even with them.  And Granderson will be back before you know it.

As soon as Johnny Damon homered last night, there was an outpouring of messages on Twitter condemning the Yankees for not re-signing him.  Damon can still hit, but little leaguers have stronger arms than him, and fly balls have become an adventure in left field.  Despite all that, Damon could have been the Yankees DH had he and his agent Scott Boras not decided to be greedy.

Hideki Matsui’s name was thrown in the mix as well.  He was a clutch bat for the Yankees, but a liability in the field and his knees are shot. You can bet that if Matsui was still a Yankee and was hitting the .230 he’s currently hitting with the Halos, Yankees fans would be screaming about how the team shouldn’t have re-signed him.

The Yankee fan base has quickly forgotten how quickly a team can age. The 1996-2001 mini-dynasty ended with a sharp decline and even though the team made the 2003 World Series, there was some very obvious holes that took a long time to fill. 20/20 hindsight is easy to have, but looking back do you think it was smart to re-sign Scott Brosius or should the Yankees have made Mike Lowell their third baseman for the long run?

The Yankees have won 9 of 10 series this season, but apparently that isn’t good enough for some fans. Now, there’s no question that the Nick Johnson signing was probably not the most well thought out plan. But most likely the thinking was to go cheap for one year and then to make a run after Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth for next season.

Seriously, how do some Yankees fans last through a 162 game season? When my team loses in any sport it bother me.  But you can’t carry it into the next game.  The players don’t why should you as a fan?  Baseball is not like football.  There is no week between games.  Barring a rainout or a rare day off, teams are back on the field the next night.

Some losses hurt more than others, of course.  If you’re a Yankees fan, you never want to lose to Boston, but you have to look at the big picture. In this case that means remembering that the Yankees won two of three in both of their series with Boston this year (on the road to boot).

It’s cliche, but the baseball season is indeed a marathon not a sprint.  Chill out Yankees fans.
On the Up side

There were some positives for the Yankees and their fans to take from last night’s game with Detroit. Another home run for Mark Teixeira. A much better outing for David Robertson. Alex Rodriguez had a couple of solid hits. Jorge Posada returned to the lineup.  And a dominant performance by Joba Chamberlain, who hit the upper 90′s with his fastball and struck out the side in the 8th inning.

Where’s Waldo?

In this case, where’s Mariano Rivera.  The Yankees closer had sat out a three game series with Baltimore last week due to stiffness in his side.  With no close games in Boston, Joe Girardi decided to let Rivera rest some more.  But in a tight one last night there was still no Rivera sighting.  It has to make you wonder if Rivera is/was hurt worse than the Yankees let on.  With Javier Vazquez going for the Yankees tonight, the bullpen will most certainly be needed.  But it remains to be seen if the pen’s best pitcher will be used.

The Scranton Express

Injuries and a tired bullpen have led to a number of players being summoned from Scranton, the Yankees Triple-A affiliate.  Infielder Kevin Russo, and pitchers Romulo Sanchez and Ivan Nova have joined the Yankees on the road.  Tonight the Bombers get another left-handed bat to replace some of the missing pop with the recall of first baseman Juan Miranda.

* * *

Drew Sarver covers the Yankees for BaseballDigest.com and blogs at My Pinstripes.  He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

Joe Girardi and the Yankees fans got a good look at the future in players like Jesus Montero and Slade Heathcott and ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte in the unique intrasquad game.  The Yankees, whose lineup featured minor leaguers on both sides by the time the game concluded, topped their future (hey, at least they didn’t destroy their future) 9-6.

With the regular season starting Sunday night, that also means it was time for the Yankees to pare down the roster.  The 25-man roster to start the season looks like this:

Pitchers:

CC Sabathia
A.J. Burnett
Andy Pettitte
Javier Vazquez
Phil Hughes
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Sergio Mitre
Damaso Marte
Alfredo Aceves
David Robertson
Chan Ho Park

Catchers

Jorge Posada
Francisco Cervelli

Infielders

Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Robinson Cano
Mark Teixeira
Ramiro Pena
Nick Johnson

Outfielders

Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Brett Gardner
Randy Winn
Marcus Thames

Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman opted to go with Sergio Mitre as a long man in the pen rather than keep either Royce Ring or Boone Logan as a second left-hander in the bullpen.  Either could still be called up quicky if Damaso Marte’s cranky shoulder proves detrimental to the team as it did last season.

There was a big change in the team’s catching depth as well.  With Jorge Posada bothered by a stiff neck and Francisco Cervelli slowed by a sore hamstring, there was speculation that veteran catcher Mike Rivera might make the squad out of Tampa.

Not only didn’t Rivera make the team, he was on the verge of being released.  Rivera became expendable after former Yankee Chad Moeller was released by the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees quickly scooped him up as well former Diamondbacks catcher Robbie Hammock, and signed the pair to minor league deals.  Meanwhile Cervelli’s hamstring felt good enough for him to travel with the big squad.

* * *

Drew Sarver covers the Yankees for BaseballDigest.com and blogs at My Pinstripes.  He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

The walk off win became a staple of last year’s team that captured its 27th title and though it was just an exhibition game, the ironic outcome of yesterday’s game was lost on no one.

Chad Gaudin started for the Bombers and was followed by two of his fellow combatants for the 5th starter spot, Sergio Mitre and Al Aceves.  The three combined to allow just one hit over six innings.  A rough beginning by Jonathan Albadejo and a Yankees error helped the Pirates tie things up in the 7th after the Yankees had jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

But after lead off singles by fellow minor leaguers Brandon Laird and Jon Weber to start the 9th, Curtis hit a no doubt about (in fairness almost all home runs in the grapefruit league are no doubt about it due to the wind) blast off Virgil Vasquez to right-center for the game winner.

Ramiro Pena opened the scoring for the Yankees in the 6th with a solo home run.  Nick Johnson added an RBI double and Weber drove in a third run in the inning with the first of his two singles.  Former Yankees prospect was charged with all three runs.

Game Notes

The Yankees traditionally wore their pinstripes for the only time during spring training.

Curtis Granderson played centerfield and was 0-2 in his Yankees’ debut.

The Yankees threatened against Ian Snell (5-2 since joining Seattle) in the 1st inning, putting two runners aboard with no one out.  But Snell retired Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Hideki Matsui to escape the jam and the Yankees offense flopped like a fish after that.  The Yankees would manage just five hits on the day, three of them byTeixeira.

Chamberlain retired the first two hitters of the game, but then gave up back to back doubles to Jose Lopez and Ken Griffey Jr., and an RBI single to Adrian Beltre for a 2-0 M’s lead.  Things went from bad to worse an inning later with Griffey punctuating the 5-run outburst with a 3-run home run.  It was Griffey’s 16th home run of the season, the same output as his 1989 rookie season, and 627th of his career.

Game Notes

On the bright side, Sergio Mitre tossed five innings of 1-hit ball in relief.

The Yankees begin a three game series tonight with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  The AL East lead has been reduced to 5 1/2 games (ahead of Boston), but the magic number is just one to clinch a playoff spot.

But when Posada scored on Brett Gardner’s double, he threw an elbow in Carlson’s direction and was immediately ejected.  The two mouthed off to one another, then went at each other as the benches again emptied.  When it was all over, Carlson was sporting a large knot on his forehead and had been ejected, and Joe Girardi had a cut on his ear thanks to a wild swing from Blue Jays infielder John McDonald.  It was no small coincidence that McDonald had been hit by Melancon earlier this season. There was a bit of comic relief too, provided by scrawny Edwar Ramirez, who restrained the beefy Barajas.

The game itself wasn’t much of a contest after the Yankees had taken an early 2-0 lead against Doc Halladay.  Sergio Mitre was pounded by the Jays for four of the five home runs they hit on the night.  Travis Snider, especially stood out, hitting a pair of bombs into the second deck in right field.  Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion also took Mitre deep and Jose Bautista added a late home run against reliever Mike Dunn.

The Yankees had 11 hits against Halladay, who wasn’t at the top of his game, but still good enough for his third victory against the Yankees this season.  Gardner and Derek Jeter singled in runs in the 2nd inning, but the Yankees couldn’t anything after that until the final two innings when they added a run in each frame.

Game Notes

Both Posada and Carlson were suspended 4 games by Major League Baseball.

The game also marked the finest performance this season by Sergio Mitre since his recall by the big club back on July 21.  He retired the first 13 White Sox to start the game and allowed just one hit over 6 1/3 innings, before being forced to depart when a line drive off the bat of A.J. Pierzynski struck his right forearm.  For now, Mitre will be considered day-to-day after the imprint of the baseball was clearly visible on his arm.

The Yankees offense gave Mitre plenty of support early and often.  Consecutive base hits by Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Jerry Hairston Jr. (2 RBI), starting in place of Melky Cabrera, put the Bombers up 2-0 in the 2nd inning.  A walk to Jose Molina and a sac bunt by Derek Jeter set things up for Johnny Damon, who delivered both runners with a double for a 4-0 Yankees advantage.

The Yankees continued the onslaught in the 4th with another four-run outburst.  Jeter singled to start the frame and Damon reached on an error by Jayson Nix that allowed both runners to move into scoring position.  An Alex Rodriguez single and a  Hideki Matsui double extended the lead to 6-0 and sent Contreras to the showers.  Swisher greeted D.J. Carrasco with an RBI single and Cano brought the final run home with a productive ground out.

Mitre cruised through the first four innings, his slider working as effectively as it ever had, and recording five ground ball outs plus a pair of strikeouts. Rodriguez temporarily kept the perfect game going when he dove to his right to snare Paul Konerko’s grounder and threw out the White Sox 1st baseman to start the 5th inning.  But DH Jim Thome ripped a line drive past Mark Teixeira to break up the no-no and perfect game in one swing of the bat.

Mitre walked Brent Lillibridge to open the 7th before Pierzynski’s ball ricocheted off Mitre’s arm and went behind the mound.  Before feeling the pain, the Yankees starter tracked the ball down and threw out the White Sox catcher at 1st base for the inning’s first out.  Trainer Gene Monahan and manager Joe Girardi quickly came to the mound and immediately got Mitre out of there once they saw the swelling that had begun.  The White Sox wouldn’t benefit from Mitre’s removal though, as Chad Gaudin came on and allowed just one walk in 2 2/3 innings while striking out four.

Game Notes

Alex Rodriguez belted his 23rd home run of the season in the 8th inning for the game’s final tally.  It was home run #576 for his career, putting him 7 behind Mark McGwire for 8th place on the all-time list.

Derek Jeter had his 7th 3-hit game of the month and his 14th multi-hit game.  He’s now 13 hits shy of tying Lou Gehrig’s franchise record.

Joba Chamberlain goes in the series finale this afternoon (1 P.M. ET) as the Yankees go for the series sweep.  Girardi would not reveal if Chamberlain was on a pitch count as has been rumored.  Freddy Garcia makes his third start of the season for the White Sox.

WP – Mitre (1-0)  SV – Rivera (27)  LP – Hill (3-3)

With 54 RBI in 63 games, it’s not hard to imagine what kind of numbers Alex Rodriguez would have put up had he been healthy all year.  The third baseman’s 2-run single propelled the Yankees past the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 tonight for their 5th straight victory and sole possession of 1st place in the AL East.  Sergio Mitre was not stellar, but solid enough to pick up his first major league victory since July 29, 2007.  Meanwhile, Boston lost their 4th straight, 4-2 to the Texas Rangers.

The Yankees trailed the O’s 2-1 in the 3rd inning when they loaded the bases with 2 outs against Orioles’ starter Rich Hill.  Cody Ransom and Mark Teixeira drew two of the eight walks issued by Baltimore pitching and Derek Jeter singled in between them.  A-Rod ripped a single through the left side that scored Ransom and Jeter easily for a 3-2 Yankees lead.

Robinson Cano added to the lead and sent Hill to the showers in the 4th with a 2-run home run, his 14th of the season.  Later in the inning, Ransom received another free pass, stole 2nd base, and scored on Johnny Damon’s RBI single for a 6-2 lead.

Mitre, who hadn’t appeared in a major league game since Sept. 15, 2007, got off to a rocky start.  Brian Roberts led off the ball game with a double and two batters later Nick Markakis gave the O’s a 1-0 lead with an RBI single.  But after Mitre wild pitched Markakis to 2nd, he retired Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott to escape further trouble.

Yankees-killer Roberts struck again in the 3rd in a 1-1 game.   He singled, stole 2nd and moved to 3rd base on Mitre’s erroneous pick-off throw.  With the infield back, Adam Jones grounded out to Jeter to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

Mitre allowed a 2-run single to Melvin Mora in the 6th that cut the Yankees lead to 6-4, but departed to a decent ovation after he struck out the next hitter, Nolan Reimold.  Mariano Rivera sealed up the win in the 9th with his 27th save and 23rd consecutive converted save chance.

Game Notes

Damaso Marte made a rehab appearance for the Scranton Yankees earlier this evening.  He threw 20 pitches, 11 of which were strikes, and allowed a run on 2 hits, and walked 1.

The Yankees promoted relievers Kevin Whelan (from Trenton to Scranton) and Humberto Sanchez (Tampa to Trenton) this afternoon.  Both players were acquired in the Gary Sheffield deal along with current Scranton reliever Anthony Claggett.

The Yankees go for their 2nd straight sweep when the series concludes Wednesday afternoon (1:05 p.m. ET).  A.J. Burnett faces right-hander Jason Berken.

The Trenton Thunder host tonight’s Eastern League All-Star game.  Thunder team members, and Yankees prospects, Jesus Montero, Zach McAllister, Mike Dunn, Josh Schmidt, Reegie Corona, Eduardo Nunez, and Jorge Vazquez will represent the Northern squad.   Trenton manager Tony Franklin will be at the helm of the North along with his coaching staff.

The Yankees begin a 10-game homestand beginning Thursday night with Detroit.  After 3 games with the Tigers, the Orioles come to town for 3 before the A’s finish the homestand with a 4-game set.  The Tigers series includes Old-Timer’s Day on Sunday, July 19.

When the Chien-Ming Wang’s spot in the rotation comes up, the Yankees will probably go with Sergio Mitre and move Al Aceves back to the pen.

The Yankees will also look elsewhere for a starting pitcher.  According to the NY Post, Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell is among those who have piqued the Yankees interest.  The Bombers are also looking into Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman.