Moose Comes Back to Earth

Alex Rodriguez enjoyed a great homecoming in front of 30,000 plus fans with a home run and 2 RBI, but Mike Mussina wasn't so happy afterwards. Moose got tagged for 5.1 earned runs in 5 innings as the Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins, 5-3.

Five seems to be the number of the night as Mussina also allowed 5 hits. Two of them were home runs by former Met, Mike Jacobs. Andrew Miller, acquired in the Miguel Cabrera trade, upped to his spring record to 3-0, with 5 innings of 3 run ball.

Derek Jeter and A-Rod each doubled in a run in the 3rd inning when the Yankees took their only lead of the night, 2-1. Trailing 4-2 in the 5th, A-Rod hit his 4th home run of the spring for the Yankees final tally.

LaTroy Hawkins retired both batters he faced to extend his scoreless spring to 8.2 innings. Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Jason Giambi had 2 hits each.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	1	2	0	0	1	0	.245
Matsui, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.343
Jeter, SS	4	1	2	1	0	0	2	.280
Betemit, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.154
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	3	2	.349
Ransom, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.282
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	1	2	2	1	1	1	.452
1-Green, PR-3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Giambi, 1B	4	0	2	0	0	1	1	.395
2-Porter, PR-RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Posada, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.244
Molina, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.342
Cano, 2B	2	0	0	0	2	0	2	.452
Castro, B, 2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Duncan, DH	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	.362
a-Ensberg, PH-DH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.234
Cabrera, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.304
Lane, CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222
Totals	37	3	10	3	4	10	22
a-Walked for Duncan in the 8th. 1-Ran for Rodriguez, A in the 7th. 2-Ran for Giambi in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Damon 2 (7, Miller, A, Miller, A), Jeter (5, Miller, A), Rodriguez, A (5, Miller, A). HR: Rodriguez, A (4, 5th inning off Miller, A, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 4; Jeter 3; Rodriguez, A 6; Giambi 2; Posada; Duncan. RBI: Jeter (2), Rodriguez, A 2 (10). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera; Posada; Jeter 2; Duncan; Cano; Betemit. Team LOB: 11.

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (L, 0-1)	5.1	5	5	5	1	2	2	6.00
Hawkins	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Albaladejo	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.86
Ramirez	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.32

HBP: Willingham (by Mussina).
Pitches-strikes: Mussina 73-48, Hawkins 8-5, Albaladejo 11-8, Ramirez 12-8.
Ground outs-fly outs: Mussina 2-11, Hawkins 0-2, Albaladejo 1-1, Ramirez 1-1.
Batters faced: Mussina 22, Hawkins 3, Albaladejo 4, Ramirez 4.
Umpires: HP: James Hoye. 1B: Ed Rapuano. 2B: Angel Hernandez. 3B: Mike Estabrook.
Weather: 74 degrees, clear.
Wind: 10 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:31.
Att: 30,227.

Moose Comes Back to Earth

Alex Rodriguez enjoyed a great homecoming in front of 30,000 plus fans with a home run and 2 RBI, but Mike Mussina wasn't so happy afterwards. Moose got tagged for 5.1 earned runs in 5 innings as the Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins, 5-3.

Five seems to be the number of the night as Mussina also allowed 5 hits. Two of them were home runs by former Met, Mike Jacobs. Andrew Miller, acquired in the Miguel Cabrera trade, upped to his spring record to 3-0, with 5 innings of 3 run ball.

Derek Jeter and A-Rod each doubled in a run in the 3rd inning when the Yankees took their only lead of the night, 2-1. Trailing 4-2 in the 5th, A-Rod hit his 4th home run of the spring for the Yankees final tally.

LaTroy Hawkins retired both batters he faced to extend his scoreless spring to 8.2 innings. Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Jason Giambi had 2 hits each.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	1	2	0	0	1	0	.245
Matsui, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.343
Jeter, SS	4	1	2	1	0	0	2	.280
Betemit, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.154
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	3	2	.349
Ransom, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.282
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	1	2	2	1	1	1	.452
1-Green, PR-3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Giambi, 1B	4	0	2	0	0	1	1	.395
2-Porter, PR-RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Posada, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.244
Molina, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.342
Cano, 2B	2	0	0	0	2	0	2	.452
Castro, B, 2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Duncan, DH	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	.362
a-Ensberg, PH-DH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.234
Cabrera, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.304
Lane, CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222
Totals	37	3	10	3	4	10	22
a-Walked for Duncan in the 8th. 1-Ran for Rodriguez, A in the 7th. 2-Ran for Giambi in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Damon 2 (7, Miller, A, Miller, A), Jeter (5, Miller, A), Rodriguez, A (5, Miller, A). HR: Rodriguez, A (4, 5th inning off Miller, A, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 4; Jeter 3; Rodriguez, A 6; Giambi 2; Posada; Duncan. RBI: Jeter (2), Rodriguez, A 2 (10). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera; Posada; Jeter 2; Duncan; Cano; Betemit. Team LOB: 11.

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (L, 0-1)	5.1	5	5	5	1	2	2	6.00
Hawkins	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Albaladejo	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.86
Ramirez	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.32

HBP: Willingham (by Mussina).
Pitches-strikes: Mussina 73-48, Hawkins 8-5, Albaladejo 11-8, Ramirez 12-8.
Ground outs-fly outs: Mussina 2-11, Hawkins 0-2, Albaladejo 1-1, Ramirez 1-1.
Batters faced: Mussina 22, Hawkins 3, Albaladejo 4, Ramirez 4.
Umpires: HP: James Hoye. 1B: Ed Rapuano. 2B: Angel Hernandez. 3B: Mike Estabrook.
Weather: 74 degrees, clear.
Wind: 10 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:31.
Att: 30,227.

The Daily Yankeeland

The Yankees finish up the spring training schedule (hard to believe we're there already) with a pair of games in Miami against the Florida Marlins. It's a bit of a homecoming of course for Joe Girardi who was manager of the year as the Marlins skipper in 2006 and then was fired after clashing with the Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. Girardi also butted heads with the beat writers at times so it should be interesting to see what they write this weekend. Both games will broadcast on WCBS radio.

The Yankees 25 man roster is just about finalized. We know that Morgan Ensberg, Shelley Duncan, Jose Molina, and Wilson Betemit will be on the bench, and the final bullpen spots will probably be go to Darrell Rasner (please, anyone but Igawa) and Brian Bruney. Scott Patterson had better be here some time this season.

Kay is for Kool-aid: Michael Kay was overly effusive with his praise of George Steinbrenner in the wake of the Legends Field renaming ceremony. You would have thought Georgie was the greatest thing since sliced bread according to his YESman Kay, who poured on the praises on his 1050ESPN radio show. As you recalled Kay also shredded JoeTorre for weeks after his contract negotiation fell through. Stick to announcing Michael.

Former traveling secretary George Costanza David Szen has asked the court to be spared prison time for failing to report more than $50,000 in tips from players and coaches. Szen pleaded guilty back in December.

According to Peter Abraham, Andy Pettitte threw a 25-pitch bullpen session today in Tampa and felt great.

“As far as during my bullpen and stuff like that, I feel great,” Pettitte told the AP. “It loosened up good. Do I still feel it walking around? Yeah. Sunday is a good day. I need to get some good work in. That’s all I’m looking for now.”

The Daily Yankeeland

The Yankees finish up the spring training schedule (hard to believe we're there already) with a pair of games in Miami against the Florida Marlins. It's a bit of a homecoming of course for Joe Girardi who was manager of the year as the Marlins skipper in 2006 and then was fired after clashing with the Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. Girardi also butted heads with the beat writers at times so it should be interesting to see what they write this weekend. Both games will broadcast on WCBS radio.

The Yankees 25 man roster is just about finalized. We know that Morgan Ensberg, Shelley Duncan, Jose Molina, and Wilson Betemit will be on the bench, and the final bullpen spots will probably be go to Darrell Rasner (please, anyone but Igawa) and Brian Bruney. Scott Patterson had better be here some time this season.

Kay is for Kool-aid: Michael Kay was overly effusive with his praise of George Steinbrenner in the wake of the Legends Field renaming ceremony. You would have thought Georgie was the greatest thing since sliced bread according to his YESman Kay, who poured on the praises on his 1050ESPN radio show. As you recalled Kay also shredded JoeTorre for weeks after his contract negotiation fell through. Stick to announcing Michael.

Former traveling secretary George Costanza David Szen has asked the court to be spared prison time for failing to report more than $50,000 in tips from players and coaches. Szen pleaded guilty back in December.

According to Peter Abraham, Andy Pettitte threw a 25-pitch bullpen session today in Tampa and felt great.

“As far as during my bullpen and stuff like that, I feel great,” Pettitte told the AP. “It loosened up good. Do I still feel it walking around? Yeah. Sunday is a good day. I need to get some good work in. That’s all I’m looking for now.”