Ex-Yanks season update No. 3

Here’s another regular season update on some of the key Yankees who left the team this offseason.

Hitter (team)	AB	H	AVG/OBP/SLG	HR	RBI
Johnny Damon (DET)	292	80	.274/.362/.421	6	28
Austin Jackson (DET)	313	94	.300/.354/.403	1	20
Hideki Matsui (LAA)	294	74	.252/.334/.398	10	47
Melky Cabrera (ATL)	270	70	.249/.312/.330	2	15
Xavier Nady (CHC)	138	31	.225/.295/.348	4	19
Jose Molina (Tor)	85	24	.282/.351/.400	2	6
Eric Hinske (ATL)	175	48	.274/.337/.480	6	34

Pitcher (team)	G	IP	ERA	K	WHIP
Ian Kennedy (ARI)	18	111.1	4.12	100	1.40
Phil Coke (DET)	42	36.1	2.48	30	1.32
Brian Bruney (WAS)	19	17.2	7.64	16	2.32
Chien-Ming Wang (WAS)	--	--	--	--	--

Notes on notables:
Hideki Matsui: Godzilla has cooled down since the last update, going six for his last 34. He hasn’t hit any homers in that span, and has just one since June 6.

Melky Cabrera: The Melk-Man is on a bit of a run since the last update. He even had a game-winning homer against the Mets just last week. But with Javier Vazquez pitching the way he has the past couple of months, nobody has second-guessed Brian Cashman’s trade since April.

Ian Kennedy: He’s thrown just one quality start in his last five starts after throwing eight in his first 13. His ERA has also increased in each of his last five starts.

Brian Bruney: He was signed by the Mets last week and is pitching for their Triple-A affiliate.

Gardner continues tear, Yanks fall short to USA

Brett Gardner posted a three-for-three day, including a double, a stolen base and a run scored.  Technically the game does not count toward his spring training stats, but if you do include the numbers, he is 8/13 with three doubles and three stolen bases.

Phil Hughes started and was knocked out of the game on Derek Jeter's second single of the game with two outs in the top of the third inning.  Jeter played the whole game going 2/4 with two RBIs, a walk and a strikeout.  This was the first time the captain has ever played against the Yankees in his illustrious career.

Hughes was hit with the loss, but Eric Hacker could not record an out in the sixth inning, and surrendered four runs (three earned).  Phil Coke, Michael Dunn, David Robertson and Jose Veras did not let up any runs in 6 1/3 combined innings.

It was a fairly impressive performance for the Yankees, playing against some of the best players in the U.S.  They managed one run each off Roy Oswalt and Matt Lindstrom, and even tagged Matt Thornton for three runs.

Going back to the centerfield dilemma, the Yankees have to take note of Gardner's performance so far.  However, there is still a whole month left of spring training games and anything can happen in that span.

Jeter was interviewed today and was "informed" that he was the captain of the USA team.  It is clear that everything will be handled lightly because he has known most of the guys from the past.  He said he felt honored and "enjoyed" playing for the USA in the last World Baseball Classic. 

Yanks' minor leaguers blow lead, fall 5-4

Yankee prospects Eric Hacker, Andrew Brackman, George Kontos and Jorge De La Rosa combined to give up five runs, allowing the Twins to comeback in a game that they were down 3-0.

Brett Gardner added a walk and another steal to his perfect day at the plate before being replaced by highly-touted prospect, Austin Jackson.  He went one for two and scored a run for the day.

Jorge Posada DH'ed again and continued his hot hitting, slapping two base hits.

This was the Yankees' first loss of spring training and they are now 2-1 overall.