1 Week

1 week from tomorrow the fun starts for real. You can tell it is late in spring training; the games are getting very boring. Most of the roster spots are sewn up, but a few remain.

The Yankees traveled to Bradenton today for an 8-0 thumping at the hands of the Pirates. The Yankees had only 2 hits from a lineup which featured only 3 regulars - Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, and Hideki Matsui.

Jeff Karstens, still hoping to nail down the long man role in the pen, did nothing to help himself as today's starter. The right-hander allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in just 3 innings. In fact, 3 of the 5 relievers used by the Yankees also gave up runs. One of the competitors for the long man is Darrell Rasner. Rasner helped himself out on Friday night, tossing 4 shutout innings in the Yankees 2-1 win over the Rays.

Today's loss was the first in a week. Meanwhile, Mike Mussina and Kei Igawa pitched against the Yankees farmhands earlier today. Mussina, facing Triple-A batters, threw 83 pitches, allowing 1 run over 7 innings.

Igawa struck out 8 Double-A batters in 4 innings of work. He threw 55 pitches, 35 of which were strikes. It's unfathomable to us that they're still considering Igawa for the big league roster.

Andy Pettitte, hit with back spasms yesterday, continued to feel soreness today and didn't throw. He's hoping more rest and treatment will get him out there tomorrow.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333
Nunez, E, SS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.417
Gardner, B, CF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.379
Matsui, LF	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.393
Castro, B, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.278
Ensberg, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.250
Porter, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.292
Betemit, SS-1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.175
Lane, RF	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.250
Ransom, 3B	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.257
Green, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182
Woodward, DH	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.400
Moeller, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	.160
Brown, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Totals	28	0	2	0	3	3	9
BATTING TB: Matsui; Woodward. GIDP: Moeller. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING PO: Matsui (1st base by Maholm). FIELDING Outfield assists: Lane (Bautista at home), Cabrera (Paulino at 3rd base).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Karstens (L, 1-3)	3.0	7	4	4	0	2	0	9.64
Strickland	0.2	2	0	0	0	0	0	3.38
Phillips	1.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	7.11
Veras	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	0	9.00
Ramirez	1.0	2	1	1	1	3	0	4.91
Ohlendorf	1.0	2	1	1	0	2	0	2.35

Karstens pitched to 3 batters in the 4th.

WP: Phillips, Veras, Ohlendorf.
HBP: Bautista (by Veras).
Ground outs-fly outs: Karstens 4-2, Strickland 1-0, Phillips 2-1, Veras 1-1, Ramirez 0-0, Ohlendorf 2-0
Batters faced: Karstens 15, Strickland 3, Phillips 5, Veras 6, Ramirez 6, Ohlendorf 6
Inherited runners-scored: Strickland 1-1, Phillips 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Chad Fairchild. 1B: Charlie Reliford. 2B: Phil Cuzzi. 3B: Kevin Causey.
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 7 mph, Out to CF.
T: 2:27.
Att: 5,791.