On the Yankees beat

This was one of those time-capsule games for the Yankees – one they'd like to bury now and dig up in October when they might face these same Tigers.

Randy Johnson pitched into the ninth and wasn't satisfied. Grumpy is good for him. Alex Rodriguez hit a home run – really, he did – and got a curtain call. And, perhaps most importantly given his morning MRI and the uncertainty that surrounded it, Mariano Rivera closed out the Tigers.

"They're the main people for us," Joe Torre said. That's a bit of a stretch, since the Yankees' manager is blessed to have other main men, like Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, all of whom also contributed yesterday.

But Mo, for physical reasons, and the touchy Big Unit and sensitive A-Rod, for mental reasons, are the main sources of worry for Torre and the Yankees.

That's why yesterday's win was so sweet. Johnson pitched at least seven innings for the fourth straight outing, a salve for a wounded bullpen. Rodriguez showed signs he may be able to salvage this season after all. Remember, 'true' Yankees are judged by October more than any other month. And Rivera's fastball was in the mid-90s, allaying any fears the Yankees or their fans had that his elbow injury was serious.

"I was pleased, especially after the way we finished the road trip," Torre said of the Yankees taking two of three from the team with the best record in the league after losing two of three to both Anaheim and Seattle last week.

With the Red Sox in their rear-view mirror, the Yankees can realistically consider motoring past Detroit. They trail the Tigers by just three games with a month left to play. If yesterday's Big 3 really is fine, that's not much of a deficit.

No word yet on whether Carl Pavano will actually show up today -- he's in New York to be checked out by team physician Stuart Hershon -- but if he does come to Yankee Stadium he has a present waiting for him in his locker.

Six back pages from the New York tabloids -- complete with his photo and headlines screaming "Crash Test Dummy" -- are taped to his clubhouse locker wall, right next to his clean Yankees No. 45 jersey. So if after what has happened, if you still don't believe his teammates think he's a joke, this display should finally convince you.

UPDATE: 12:55 p.m.

Just rode the elevator with Brian Cashman and Hershon, who presumably were on their way back from the appointment with Pavano. Cashman wouldn't comment on how it went, but indicated they would probably have something to say later in the day. He also did not think Pavano was coming here today. Just my guess on what may come today, and it's just a guess: they shut down Pavano for the season...

UPDATE: 7:05 p.m.

Pavano never came. And he won't for a while. He's been dispatched to Tampa and won't be allowed to throw off a mound for two weeks, essentially ending any shot (however slim it ever was) of him pitching for the Yankees this season. Looks as if his locker wallpaper will have to stay up for a while.

If you're interested...

Download file

It's a PDF, so it may take a few moments to load.

Hideki Matsui has been cleared to take live batting practice and will start today before the Yankees play the Tigers in a day-night doubleheader, general manager Brian Cashman announced after last night’s game was rained out.
The best-case scenario for the Yankees is that Matsui, who has been out since fracturing his left wrist on May 11, could be their designated hitter down the stretch and in the playoffs. With the minor-league seasons ending around Labor Day, there isn’t much time for a rehab assignment, and manager Joe Torre said he wouldn’t expect Matsui to be ready to play the outfield.
“I think it’s probably the safest thing to do for him as opposed to having him dive for a ball in the outfield,” Torre said of DHing.
Matsui, when asked how much batting practice he would need to get ready, said, “The more, the better.”
Torre said Gary Sheffield (wrist surgery) was to be examined this week and could be cleared to hit off a tee. If he isn’t cleared, Torre said, the chances of his playing this season are “remote.”

If you could say something to Carl Pavano, what would it be? And remember, we're a family-oriented blog here. So keep it clean, fellas!

***

And for those wondering about how Pavano feels ... He admitted on yesterday's conference call he made a bad decision and feels bad about that, but he doesn't plan to apologize to his teammates. Which is funny when you think about this:

Hideki Matsui, ever the gamer, issued a public apology after breaking his wrist.

And even Kevin Brown apologized to his teammates for breaking his hand by punching the wall outside Joe Torre's office. His words were brief and he was said to be very uncomfortable, but he did what he had to do, and within seconds Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada both spoke up with quick encouraging phrases to the whole team.

Yet Pavano says, no, thanks.

The latest on the $40 million bust named Carl Pavano:

The pain he felt under his armpit is actually two fractured ribs suffered in a car wreck two weeks ago, on the morning of August 15, not from his West Palm Beach home. He hide the injury and car wreck from the Yankees until Saturday when he just so happened to be nearing his return to the Yankees. We report, you decide.

The Yankees understandably are furious at him and put him on a conference call with reporters just now to defend himself. He said he hates being a distraction. But he didn't sound ready to apologize to his teammates or anything. More on that later.

And expect the Yankees to hand him a fine.

As for the ribs, Pavano has another doctor's appointment tomorrow and as long as he is cleared he will be pitching for Columbus Wednesday and then will join the Yankees. If you have to see it to believe it, we understand. More to come.

Carl Pavano's 14-month stint on the DL may not be coming to an end so soon. He has a right ribcage injury that he is getting checked out tomorrrow. Given his history, there's no reason to feel anything but pessimism. So much for the booing debate.

Coach John Wooden, closing in on 96, made a surprise visit to the Yankees clubhouse, spending time with Joe Torre, Mike Mussina, Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez, among others. A-Rod was sitting and reading Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" as he listened to a pep talk from the legendery UCLA basketball coach.

Carl Pavano, after throwing six innings for Triple-A Columbus Friday night, deemed himself ready to return to the Yankees.

With Jaret Wright struggling and with Mike Mussina on the disabled list, it seems likely Pavano's next start will be in pinstripes in the Bronx. My question to you is this: will you boo him before he throws a pitch?

Pavano, on the disabled list for more than 14 months, threw 89 pitches for Columbus.

One hitter from the other team who faced him said Pavano's fastball was consistently at 90-to-91 miles per hour, a good sign, though he said it was pretty straight. He described his changeup/splitter as above average, but his breaking ball was so-so. One promising sign: the hitter said Pavano seemed to get stronger as the night went on.                      Photo courtesy of clippersbaseball.com

During the rain delay in Boston Sunday I passed the time looking at Ron Villone's baseball-reference.com page and was astonished at the many great players he played with during his journeyman career. Hence, this week's Insider, which is my compilation of his All-Star team of former teammates with his thoughts.

Since I gave him the option of subbing some players onto the list that I may have missed, I did not include any of his current Yankees teammates, thinking that would be unfair for him to compare them to others he has played with. So here's our list, with his memories of his time with each player, and a few other notables.

This week's Insider: The Ron Villone All-Stars.

The Yankees just announced that Mike Mussina is going on the 15-day disabled list, making him eligible to come off on Sept. 5. Brian Bruney has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus. And Sidney Ponson has cleared waivers and was released.

Allow me to move away from the Yankees for a brief second or two, if you will.

While I was in the clubhouse postgame, I noticed one of the cameramen had a Survivor t-shirt on, and the front of it said it small letters, "Crew." No way, I thought. So I asked him about it, and sure enough he has shot five or six seasons, including the most recent, which debuts on television in the middle of next month. He is required by law to be tight lipped about the show, but he did give me a few tidbits:

-- He said this coming season the show's producers really mixed it up with how they do things (I take that to mean more tribes, different rules, another Exile island) and he said the end result was very interesting and entertaining season.

-- He only shoots tribal councils and challenges, so he is not ever present at their camps. He is not allowed to speak to castaways. Only Jeff Probst is. But sometimes the people try to speak to him. He also insisted everything we see is real, and that they don't ever stop challenges to move people around for camera angles, etc.

-- Rest assured, he told me the crew always sleeps well and eats well at their camp. I never really envisioned them fighting over how much rice they had left or whose turn it was to go fetch some more wood for the fire, anyway.

New Survivor cast, details announced

While Hideki Matsui made progress yesterday, getting clearance to do tee work, GM Brian Cashman didn't sound too optimistic about Gary Sheffield making it back. He said hand specialist Charles Melone already has told him not to expect Sheffield getting cleared for tee work until Sept. 15. And that really puts him up against the clock.

Sheffield said last week he is scheduled to visit with Melone today, and has been swinging a bat underwater for the last week. But Cashman said he can only go by what the doctor tells him, so he can't get too excited. And if the clearance doesn't come until Sept. 15, it's hard to envision Sheffield making it back this season.

Sheffield would need to do tee work for a little, step up to soft tosses, then live batting practice, and the Yankees have said that if the minor league seasons are finished -- as they would be by then -- they would like him to do some simulated work before using him in a game setting. As Cashman said, "the time frame is short."

Sheffield, of course, has admitted he's in no hurry to get back on the field next month, anyway. His focus, he says, is long-term, being that he will likely be shopping his services in the offseason looking for another three-year contract once the Yankees decline his 2007 $13 million option, as they are expected to do.

Good news for Hideki Matsui. He saw hand specialist Melvin Rosenwasser and had a CT scan earlier today, and was subsequently cleared to begin hitting off a tee. "It should go quick from here," Joe Torre said. Matsui, who was en route to Seattle last night to continue his rehab with the Yankees, could hit soft tosses by the week, take live batting practice sometime next week. And who knows? Maybe he's in a minor-league rehab game before their seasons end the first week in September.

Either way he looks as if he's on track to come back next month.

Matsui told Japanese reporters earlier today, “This is one further step toward recovery. I’m only going to be hitting off the tee. I’m just going to give it my best each day toward making it back to the team." Asked about playing this season, he said, "I’m going to work toward that, but that decision is entirely up to the team.”

Should be interesting, but still impressive considering the shape his wrist was in when he walked off the field against Boston on May 11. Even the Yankees admitted in the coming days that Matsui's wrist was so shattered that he could be out for the season.

We'll see.

On a totally separate note, I want to thank the fine people at Logan Airport for upgrading me to first class today on my 7:40 a.m. flight from Boston to Seattle. Let me tell you, it's a different world up there. And in case you're wondering, Seattle is surprisingly cold today, with temperatures in the low 60s today. Caught me by total surprise, I had to go buy myself a coat. But alas, the coffee is super strong here, understandably so, this being the birthplace of Starbucks. We like that.

The Yankees, suddenly ahead by 6 1/2 games in the AL East, can proceed cautiously with injuries. So Mike Mussina will not start Friday because of his tight right groin. Instead they will have rookie Jeff Karstens pitch tomorrow night in what has to be the least pressure game of the season to date, given what has just happened. And Jaret Wright, who was scheduled to pitch tomorrow, will go Friday for Mussina.

That's why Joe Torre opted to send out a significantly toned-down lineup. Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon were both on the bench to start the game and Derek Jeter was the designated hitter, with Torre hoping these moves will help his team recover from what has been a highly successful yet very drained four games in three days. With a six-hour flight following the game and six games in a row on the West Coast, Torre wants his players to have the energy to keep this run going.

On the injury front, Mike Mussina did not want to predict whether he will make his next start on Friday, saying he will know a lot more when he throws on the side tomorrow in Seattle. He did ride a bike and said he experienced no real pain in his right groin as he walked around. But this being the second time the injury has cropped up this season, he did admit it's something he will have to keep an eye for the rest of the season. Also, Kyle Farnsworth said he was available to pitch this afternoon, three days after getting drilled on the calf by Wily Mo Pena's liner.

As for me, I'm actually looking forward to the 7 a.m. flight to Seattle tomorrow. Getting to the airport and onto the plane is always a bit of a pain, but I don't mind the act of flying. It's not too often you are forced to sit down for an extended period of time, so you might as well as look at it as a time to kick back and relax.

And I'm just leaving Fenway now. What is it with these teams?

Aaron Guiel and Jeff Karstens showed up in the visitor's clubhouse with bags under their eyes, having each gotten about an hour of sleep. They were called after 1 in the morning and told they needed to be at the airport around 6 to fly to Boston. Sidney Ponson was designated for assignment and Brian Bruney sent to Columbus.

Karstens is up as a much-needed fresh arm in the bullpen, and he's been waiting for this. He was pulled from his last start after only one inning to keep him fresh just in case the Yankees decided he would start the nightcap of the day-night doubleheader Friday night, which Joe Torre said they were "very close" to doing. Guiel is up because Jason Giambi is banged up. He stretched his groin a touch in the eighth inning last night, and didn't play the ninth, but is back at first today.

Also, Bon Jovi showed up in the Yankees clubhouse before the game, creating a mini stir. Players were going up to him getting him to sign baseballs addressed to their wives. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, Mariano Rivera and Mike Myers were among the players milling around the rocker from Jersey.

Finally, the day ends. And what a day it was for the Yankees.

With the sweep they now lead the AL East by 3 1/2 games, meaning even if they lose the next three games here they will still head to the West Coast in first place. But there are some injury concerns:

-- Kyle Farnsworth was hit on his right calf by a liner by Wily Mo Pena, and is out for a few days. X-rays were negative, however, he left the park on crutches and the Yankees don't expect him to be available for a few days.

-- Jason Giambi hurt his groin stretching to catch Scott Proctor's throw to first for the last out of the eighth, and he did not come back out for the ninth. His status for Saturday is questionable.

Also, Torre met with GM Brian Cashman for a few minutes after the game to discuss their options in the minors. Look for Sidney Ponson to be designated for assignment, and Brian Bruney also could head downward so the Yankees could bring some fresh arms up such as Jesus Colome and Jeff Karstens.

Good night!

So it's a safe assumption we'll never see Sidney Ponson pitch again for the Yankees, so let's play a guessing game. The Yankees need a sixth starter on Sept. 16, when they play yet another day-night doubleheader against the Red Sox, this time in the Bronx. So who do you think gets the start? Ron Villone? Jeff Karstens? Tyler Clippard?

Or dare we say ... Phil Hughes???

Right now we're in the top of the seventh, with the Yankees leading, 4-3. Johnny Damon has a two-run home run and a triple, but perhaps the biggest development for the Yankees has been Chien-Ming Wang, who is still in the game. It hasn't been his best outing -- he's given up three runs, six hits and four walks (two intentional) thus far -- but the Yankees needed him to give them length, and he's done it.

For those of you at work, here's the lineups for the first of two today:

Yankees
Johnny Damon, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Jason Giambi, DH
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Jorge Posada, C
Craig Wilson, 1B
Melky Cabrera, LF

Red Sox
Coco Crisp, CF
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mike Lowell, 3B
Eric Hinske, RF
Javy Lopez, C
Alex Gonzalez, SS

During the Yankees' usual first-day-of-the-series pregame meeting, Joe Torre talked a little about the importance of moving past their "embarassing" performance yesterday (as he described it to us afterward). He also said he talked "in passing" about what the first-time Yankees should expect during a Yankee-Red Sox series in Boston.

Check out this story:

Ex-hurler Kevin Brown, neighbor at odds

MACON, Ga. (AP) — A neighbor accused retired All-Star pitcher Kevin Brown of pulling a pistol during a dispute over yard debris, officials said.

Michael Haws, whose property backs up to Brown's estate, called Bibb County sheriff's deputies Monday after an argument. He said it began when he found Brown throwing grass clippings over the fence into Haws' yard.

Haws told deputies that Brown pulled a gun and warned him against coming onto Brown's property, but did not point the gun at him.

Brown, baseball's first "$100 million-dollar man," told deputies that he carries a gun while strolling through the woods because he often sees snakes, and had seen one the previous day.

"The guy admits he was dumping stuff on my property," Brown told The Associated Press. "I have more than a few neighbors. Some of them dump trash onto my property. If I see it I'll put a limb over the fence into their yard. It's a subtle way of saying 'please stop dumping.'"

"He got irate and he threatened me, he's threatening to take me out. I stepped back away from the fence, took the gun out of my pocket and held it by my side. I think it was something anybody would have done in my situation."

Brown, who once broke his left hand punching the wall outside Yankees manager Joe Torre's office, told investigators that it was Haws who threw yard debris onto his property. He said he found clippings on his side of the fence and tossed a couple of fistfuls back into Haws' yard, the deputies' report stated.

Neither wanted to press charges, the report stated. Deputies said Brown resolved to "put up a taller fence" and Haws said he planned to buy a mulching mower.

Brown, 41, a middle Georgia native who pitched for Georgia Tech, was drafted fourth overall by the Texas Rangers in 1986. He also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins and San Diego Padres before signing a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 1998 season.

The right-hander went to the Yankees in a December 2003 trade and went 10-6 with a 4.09 ERA the following season but experienced health problems. Toward the end of the season, he broke his hand outside Torre's office. Brown did pitch in the post-season, lasting less than two innings against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2004 AL Championship Series.

He missed several games in 2005 due to injury and finished 4-7 with a 6.50 ERA. Brown announced his retirement in February after a 19-year major league career with a record of 211-144.

As expected, Andy Phillips is on the DL, and T.J. Beam is called up. The Yankees now have 13 pitchers going into this five-game, four-day series, a much-needed cushion to a bullpen that was forced to throw six innings in relief of Jaret Wright yesterday.

As I was getting my laptop checked by security entering Fenway Park a little while ago, the two guards were talking about how a Red Sox sweep today would push them into first place. Which basically says it all. Just like that, a hiccup by the Yankees the past few days and first place is suddenly on the line. At Fenway Park, no less.

So here we go, a five-game, four-day series against the hated Red Sox in Boston.

I flew in to Boston last night. JFK was amazingly empty at 9 p.m. last night. Staying in Cambridge, and took the "T" to Fenway around 8 this morning. Have to say, I get weird enjoyment out of taking public transportation in the a.m. on the road along with regular commuters. Makes me feel like an investment banker or something.

So where are you following today's games? Are you at work watching on your computer? Or did you take the day off? Get set. It's going to be a long, fun and most definitely interesting day -- and weekend. Stay tuned for more updates.

OK, Yankees fans, I know there's a game today against the Orioles, but let's get to the big question: What will happen this weekend at Fenway Park?
--Yankees win series 5-0
--Yankees win series 4-1
--Yankees win series 3-2
--Red Sox win series 3-2
--Red sox win series 4-1
--Red Sox win series 5-0

The pitching matchups are:
Friday (day): Wang vs. Johnson
Friday (night): Ponson vs. Lester
Saturday: Johnson vs. Beckett
Sunday: Mussina vs. Schilling
Monday: Lidle vs. Wells

Octavio Dotel is up, finally, and the Yankees seem willing to use him in somewhat big spots. For weeks Joe Torre has been saying he has to deal with Dotel "with kid gloves," essentially to baby him since he is coming off Tommy John surgery.

But Torre said today he would be open to using him in the seventh inning if the situation called for it. But don't look for Dotel to come in during an inning. It's far more likely you'll see him start an inning and not pitch on back-to-back days.

Should be interesting to see what he brings with him. He said his gun readings were consistently at 94 in his last game for Triple-A Columbus, but that's him talking. The Yankees setup duo of Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor have worked well of late when not being asked to throw two or three straight days. It's hard to ask Dotel -- more than 14 months removed from his last game -- to jump right in and be an eighth inning guy, but if he can take some of the stress of those guys it's a real plus.

Especially when you consider it wasn't long ago when it seemed Dotel wasn't going to be here at all. Even he had those thoughts, he admitted today, throughout the ups and downs of rehab. But with six weeks left, he could still be worth the investment.

Rarely is the MVP an award that rewards subtlety. But Derek Jeter is a legitimate challenger to that notion with the kind of season he is having in 2006. The Yankees' captain and shortstop has to be rated among the top candidates for the award, though the frontrunner appears to be Boston's David Ortiz.

"Big Papi" fits the profile of most MVPs who are non-pitchers: He's a slugger with impressive home run and RBI numbers. Of course, the added dimension for Ortiz is his amazing propensity for walkoff home runs. But the missing dimension is that he is primarily a DH and adds nothing to the Red Sox in terms of baserunning or defense.

Jeter is a multi-dimensional candidate. He's second in the AL in batting average, fourth in hits, 10th in runs, seventh in stolen bases, has a more-than-respectable RBI total (70) for a No. 2 hitter and has had an above-average year defensively.

"Watch the games" is the advice Joe Torre said he would give MVP voters. Of Jeter, he said, "It's what he brings to the table. A lot of those things can't be recognized [by stats] – making a play, having a tough at-bat. There are many unique ways to win a game." And Jeter is one of the most adept at employing them.

Torre wondered, "How much weight does defense and baserunning get?" He said he couldn't give a definitive answer, and neither can I. But I agree with Torre that, "A lot depends on which team wins." That's why Alex Rodriguez edged Ortiz in the MVP voting last year. With nine games remaining between the Yankees and Red Sox, there are two races at stake, one individual and one personal. Should be fun.

Newsday sports writer Tripp Mickle offers his take on "Boss Watch," a curious practice that happens at Yankees home games attended by George Steinbrenner. Reporters from area newspapers, including Newsday, wait outside Yankee Stadium's press entrance before and after games to shout questions at The Boss, who rarely grants regular interviews anymore. Sometimes he answers, sometimes he doesn't.
By TRIPP MICKLE
Yankees security has a new twist on the old “we-must-protect-this-house” motto. Instead, they must protect The Boss.
On Saturday night, a group of reporters working the Steinbrenner Stakeout got too close to The Boss when doing their job, which involves loitering outside Yankee Stadium before and after the game in hopes he’ll speak to them. As a result, a new barrier was erected last night, corralling the media farther away from Steinbrenner’s point of exit and making it even harder to hear him if he chooses to speak.
More than that, there are indications The Boss may be trying to outfox the reporters. During his last two visits to town, he’s made a point of getting to night games before most members of the media arrive.
Yesterday, that meant three reporters – myself included – were stuck outside staring at his Lincoln Town car, concerned they had missed him.
“Is he coming?” I asked.
“It doesn’t look like it,” a reporter from the Post shrugged and a Daily News reporter nodded in agreement.
In the end, it turned out The Boss outfoxed the media again. He was already in his office.
But we'll be back after the game.

Gary Sheffield took throws at first base again during batting practice even though he’s not swinging a bat yet and isn’t expected to return from wrist surgery until mid-September. Joe Torre called the prospect of Sheffield playing first base “intriguing,” either this season or next. The Yankees hold a $13 million option on Sheffield for 2007 and there’s no way he’s coming back as an outfielder. It’s more possible that he could split time as first base and DH with Jason Giambi.
“When you consider the outfield, you’ve got Abreu, Damon, Matsui and Cabrera,” Torre said. “So first base looks like a spot that could be intriguing, let’s put it that way.”
So how about it? Let's put this season aside for the moment and focus on '07. Do you think it would be a good idea to keep Sheff and play him at first? And if your outfield is Matsui, Damon and Abreu, what do you do with Cabrera?

Andy Phillips returned to the Stadium on Friday to find that a new Gibson guitar had arrived in the mail. It’s for his wife. Phillips, who also plays, asked Bernie Williams to tune it for him, and those in the clubhouse three hours before the game were treated to an impromptu Bernie concert.
If you’re not familiar with Bernie’s musical side, do a google search on “Bernie Williams CD” and you’ll see the CD he released a few years ago called "The Journey Within". The cover art alone is worth a look.

Remember him? He threw a minor-league rehab game tonight for Class-A Tampa, his first game action since bone-chip surgery in late May. Of course he hasn't pitched for the Yankees since June 27, 2005 because of a variety of ailments.

Joe Torre yesterday spoke optimistically about a September return for Pavano, even hoping he could make a push to be in the rotation. But he also admitted they have to go slow with him "because he hasn't been competitive in a year."

Which leads me to my question of you.

Do you expect to see Pavano pitch this season?

Okay, I admit it.

I watch Survivor.

And I have been watching it from the beginning, from season one. I love everything from Jeff Probst to tribal councils to reward challenges to "I'll go tally the votes."

Make fun of me all you want, but get this. You're newest Yankee (No, not Jose Veras) watches the show, too. Craig Wilson, acquired from the Pirates at the trade deadline, is a self-described avid viewer. We talked Survivor for a little bit the other day, and I have to say, he knew more than me. Even said he'd like to go on the show someday.

And it's not even his favorite reality television show -- that honor goes to Big Brother.

As I sit here during another White Sox pitching change in the eighth inning of a 4-4 game, let me quickly tell this story.

Sitting in LaGuardia airport this morning, awaiting the boarding of my American Airlines flight to Chicago, two Yankees fans -- looked like a young couple -- were sitting nearby. The woman was wearing a Chien-Ming Wang jersey. The guy was in a Robinson Cano jersey. So I had to wonder: Do they have a closet full of jerseys of all players, and they chose to wear these two because (a) Cano was making his return from the DL, and (b) Wang was starting tonight?

And to make it even weirder: Mariano Rivera was sitting in first class, and from my seat in row nine, I was able to see everyone's reactions when they saw the Yankees closer. So guess what the two biggest Yankees fans on the flight did?

They didn't notice him.

Okay, back to the game.

Derek Jeter is OK after being sat on by Melvin Mora on Saturday. Miguel Cairo is headed to the DL with the strained left hamstring he suffered Saturday and could miss three weeks, according to Joe Torre.
Cairo’s injury and Jeter’s near-miss got me to thinking: which Yankee do you think is the one they could least afford to lose to catastrophic injury for the rest of the season? Consider your answer carefully – think about who would replace the injured player -- because it’s not as easy to choose as you might think.
These are my top five:
1. Mariano Rivera
2. Jorge Posada
3. Mike Mussina
4. Chien-Ming Wang
5. Derek Jeter
My reason for rating Jeter fifth is the Yankees have a more than capable replacement at short in Alex Rodriguez and could always go out and get a bargain-basement third baseman (Aaron Boone?). They have no one to replace Posada, so in my view he's their most indispensible position player. Rivera at No. 1 should be self-explanatory. Mussina and Wang get high marks because quality starting pitchers are hard to replace.
The question isn't who is the best Yankee player -- that's Jeter -- but who would be the biggest loss if he got injured for the rest of the season.
Your thoughts?

In all the talk of the possible return dates of injured Yankees -- like Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield and Robinson Cano -- the name Carl Pavano is hardly spoken of seriously as someone who could come back and help the team in September.
It seems like Pavano has spent his entire Yankees career rehabbing one injury or another. The Yankees have been fooled before by hints of progress; they hope they won’t be fooled again.
An impressive batting-practice outing before yesterday’s game at Camden Yards had manager Joe Torre contemplating – dare we say it -- a return to action for Pavano, who hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since June 27, 2005 because of a variety of ailments. The latest was a bone chip in his elbow that was surgically removed on May 25.
“He was good,” Torre said after watching Pavano throw 50 pitches to Nick Green and Andy Phillips in 95-degree heat in his second BP outing in four days. “He was really good. We just have to make a decision what to do next.”
Torre said Pavano could throw another batting-practice session or could be farmed out for a rehab assignment. With the minor-league season ending around Labor Day, Pavano has a month to build up enough arm strength to be a candidate for the big-league rotation.
“I felt good and I thought I looked good,” said Pavano, who threw all of his pitches to catching coach Tony Pena. “It’s been a really long road. I’m not opposed to doing a game after this, but that’s not my call.”

Rieber here. I know how much many of you care deeply about him, so I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you: Bubba Crosby is no longer a Yankee.
The team designated the backup outfielder and blog-posters favorite for assignment on Friday and added reliever Jose Veras as their 12th pitcher.
Joe Torre explained that he really, really wanted a 12th pitcher so he would have someone to pitch in blowouts and Bubba was the most expendable player after the Yankees acquired Bobby Abreu and Craig Wilson.
Crosby was so upset with the news that he angrily refused to talk to reporters before leaving Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
OK, Bubba fans…ready, set, vent.