Yanks and Phils in Clearwater 1:05 3/3

Yesterday's game went pretty well,with the exception of Mike Myers' appearance. Today the Yankees will send Jaret Wright to the mound as they further try to formulate their rotation for the start of the season. The other day some pundit mentioned that Wright would most likely be the number 5 starter, that was counting as Pavano as one of the five. Hello? Excuse me...Shawn Chacon has to be in that rotation, he'd be wasted in the pen. I personally don't care what happens to Wright. It was an awful signing by Brian Cashman; a desperation move made in the wake of losing Jon Lieber.

Hideki Matsui will be sitting out today's game, once again, with a sore left knee. He is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday though. Gary Sheffield and Jorge Posada are not scheduled to make the trip to Clearwater either. Ex-Yank Tom Gordon will see some action for the Phils. Our old friend Jon Lieber will get the start.

Immediately after yesterday's game, the Yankees WBC participants, including newly added Al Leiter, headed off to their national team locations. Leiter took time out to talk to reporters - what else is new? - to express his enthusiasm for the tourney, and to remind us that "everyone in camp knows how I can pitch". Yeah Al, that's why we want you gone. Shut your mouth and go run for office already.

Carl Pavano and Octavio Dotel are scheduled to throw halfway up the mound tomorrow as they continue their respective injury rehabs.


Update 2:05 PM

Yankees trail 4-2 bottom 3. Ryan Howard and Aaron Rowand with home runs for the Phillies. Both were hit off of Jorge DePaula.

Update Update 4:40 PM

Phillies scored off Frank Brooks (everyone go who?) in the bottom of the 9th to win 11-10. Tom Gordon blew the lead in the 9th when Eric Duncan's RBI single capped a 2-run rally.

Ryan Howard added a second moonshot to his first one.

Yankees-Phils Game Notes

Yankee young centerfielders Melky Cabrera and Kevin Thompson both had impressive days at the plate. Cabrera, who got rushed to the majors last year, was 4-5 with a pair of ribbies and runs scored. Thompson went 3-3 with two runs scored. The Yankees, who drop to 0-2, had 16 hits on the day.

Ryan Howard had an awesome day for the Phillies, going 4-4, with a pair of long home runs and 5 RBI. Yankee fans were probably wishing the game was in Tampa after Tom Gordon's recent remarks. Gordon came into the 9th for a save and quickly blew a 2 run lead. The Yankees bullpen bailed him out though in the bottom of the 9th.

The Yankees pitching line was just plain ugly.

Wright 2 IP, 1 ER
De Paula 1 IP, 3 ER
Villone .2 IP, 3 ER
Erickson 1.1 IP, 2 R
Mendoza 1.1 IP, 1 ER
Childers 1.2 IP, 0 R
Brooks 0.2 IP, 1 ER