Kevin Millwood & Chris Dickerson in, Sergio Mitre out

After keeping quiet for most of spring training, the Yankees made a couple of moves this morning, less than a week away from Opening Day.

First, they finally signed Kevin Millwood. Second, they traded Sergio Mitre to the Brewers for center fielder Chris Dickerson.

Of course, the Yankees had to stir the pot right after I released my pitching projections.

Curtis Granderson might miss Opening Day

A slight strain in Curtis Granderson’s internal oblique might keep him from playing on Opening Day. Joe Girardi told reporters today the Yankees center fielder has a “chance” to play.

It’s unfortunate the injury bug hit the Yankees late in the spring, but sometimes you have to roll with the punches.

OK, so if not Grandy in center on Opening Day, then who? The top backup outfielder has to be the guy who the Yankees paid $2 million this offseason: Andruw Jones.

Why instant replay is NOT today’s big topic

Mariano Rivera should have had a 1-2-3 ninth last night. Yankees right fielder Greg Golson made a shoestring catch on a Delmon Young line drive for what should have been the final out. BUT, the six postseason umpires met and determined Golson trapped it. Instant replay clearly showed after the call the umps had missed the call.

This gave Jim Thome a chance to tie the game with one swing of the bat. Luckily, and you’ll see why I’m saying luckily in a second, Thome popped up to third to end the game.

IF Thome had homered and the Twins went on to win Game 1, instant replay would’ve been the major news today. No question about it.

Last year when umps called Joe Mauer’s line drive foul in the postseason, it was a game-changing call and the instant replay debate exploded the next day.

Still, I stand by my take on this debate. Instant replay should not expand any further than it already has. Keep it for calling home runs correctly, but don’t add it for calls on the bases and don’t even think about adding it for balls and strikes.

I know there are plenty out there who disagree with me, but please tell me why you do in the comments.

Yankees playing thrilling baseball lately

If you haven’t seen it, Greg Golson’s game-ending play last night for the Yankees is well worth waiting for the 10-second ad on MLB.com.

A Little Context: The Yankees led the Rays, 6-0, in the fifth, but it took a 10th-inning homer from Jorge Posada to even the series at 1 and put the Yankees back atop the AL East.

More Context: The Yankees lost a true pitchers’ duel the night before, also in extras, as CC Sabathia and David Price delivered Cy Young-like starts.

Sabathia is still considered by most (me too) as the leader for the Cy Young Award, especially now that Felix Hernandez’s workload will be monitored. But who really knows after my post yesterday.

A Lot More Context: Five of the Yankees’ last six games ended with a one-run winning margin. All five were decided in free baseball, but the Yankees won just two of them. That’s a lot of intense baseball in seven days.

Bottom Line: I’ve been extremely busy with my college newspaper lately, please marvel here, but for now I am definitely back. I’ll be perfectly honest; I didn’t catch a wink of football over opening weekend, not even my Giants (lenNY’s Giants? Maybe down the road).

My focus is purely on the Yankees until they’re eliminated. If they’re ever eliminated, that is.

Yankees news: Teixeira’s hot, Lilly, September call-ups

A few Yankees stories broke last night. Let’s jump right in:

• Mark Teixeira cranked his 30th homer last night, a three-run bomb to right, to lead the Yankees to a 9-3 win and sole possession of first place. Tex is five for his last six with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored.
• The Yankees won the claim on Ted Lilly last night, the final time for waiver trades to be completed, but the Dodgers pulled him back. This makes you wonder how confident Brian Cashman is in the staff. If I’m in his position, I’m looking to nab Lilly too. A.J. Burnett surely is feeling the pressure.
• Via The Journal News, the first three Yankees’ September call-ups are Greg Golson, Chad Moeller and Jonathan Albaladejo (unofficially).

And for your entertainment, go ahead and click through to the seventh slide in this top 30 nicknames in MLB history slideshow (h/t Hot Clicks).

Yankees playoff roster projection

I really hate counting out the Red Sox as early as I am, but I took the hint from their series loss to the Rays this past weekend. The Yankees and Rays remain tied with the best record in baseball and are heavy favorites to make the playoffs, so it’s time to start thinking about what their playoff rosters are going to look like.

Since I’m a Yankees blogger, I’m want to show you what I have in mind for them. By all means, make your case for players I reject. But please hear my cases for the fringe guys first!

The No-Doubters
Hitters (12)
Jorge Posada
Francisco Cervelli
Mark Teixeira
Lance Berkman
Robinson Cano
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Brett Gardner
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Marcus Thames
Austin Kearns

Pitchers (8)
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
David Robertson
Boone Logan
Kerry Wood

I think it’s safe to say the Yankees will carry 14 hitters and 11 pitchers, so that leaves spots for two more hitters and three pitchers. Here we go:

The Fringe Guys
Ramiro Pena — I’ll take him over Eduardo Nunez as my backup infielder. Pena has far more major-league experience than Nunez and is better defensively at more positions. I think it’s a no-brainer right now, but this could change in September.

Greg Golson — This might come as a shock to you. He has five at-bats with the Yankees this year and I have him on their playoff roster. I think the Yankees would benefit more from a speedster off the bench than a third catcher because I see Marcus Thames and Lance Berkman sharing DH duties when Francisco Cervelli catches.

A.J. Burnett — I think he’ll make the roster, but I’m not sure if he’ll be in the rotation. Another poor start or two and I think Joe Girardi will kick him out to the bullpen (where I happen to think he could be great). He’s really the biggest question mark on the whole staff.

Javier Vazquez — Like Burnett, I don’t know whether he’ll be a starter or reliever, but I think he’ll make the roster. If he’s in the rotation, that means he’s back to mid-season form. If he’s still in the pen, then maybe Girardi doesn’t want to mess with what’s working. We’ll see. Ivan Nova is the guy I’m rejecting here.

Damaso Marte — Oh how much a big game in the World Series can mean for a player. Such is the case for Marte. There hasn’t been a lot of good news about his rehab, but if he can make a few appearances in late September I think that’s more than enough evidence for Girardi to choose him. Plus, Girardi loves left-handed relievers. Who doesn’t?

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There you have it. I’ll post an updated version when late September rolls around, but until then you can feast on this. And if you’re really hungry, take a look at another perspective from a fellow Yankees blogger.

Aceves DL’d with back injury, Golson recalled

Speedy outfielder Greg Golson will be available on the bench for the doubleheader today, taking Alfredo Aceves’ place on the active roster. Aceves was inactive the last few games and his back did not get better, forcing him to the disabled list.

Aceves is the second long reliever the Yankees have lost this year, joining Chan Ho Park. Both were having good seasons too.

The Daily News is reporting Park will throw rehab games today and Friday, in order to return possibly Sunday or Monday.

Below is a comparison of the Opening Day bullpen and bench to today’s.

Opening Day bullpen	Today’s bullpen
Mariano Rivera	Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain	Joba Chamberlain
David Robertson	David Robertson
Damaso Marte	Damaso Marte
Chan Ho Park	Boone Logan
Alfredo Aceves	Ivan Nova
Sergio Mitre	Sergio Mitre
Bench	Bench
Francisco Cervelli	Francisco Cervelli
Ramiro Pena	Kevin Russo
Randy Winn	Marcus Thames
Marcus Thames	Greg Golson

Mark Melancon makes his 2010 debut

Mark Melancon was called up from Triple-A today to help a tired Yankee bullpen. In a 12-3 blowout of the White Sox, it was a perfect opportunity to make a debut. He tossed a perfect eighth inning, but Joe Girardi kept him in for the ninth and Paul Konerko made him pay with a three-run homer.

Eighth inning: He used 11 fastballs and two curveballs to retire Jayson Nix, Juan Pierre and Mark Kotsay in order. His 12-to-6 curve caught Nix looking for his first and only strikeout of the season.

Ninth inning: He got Mark Teahen, Carlos Quentin and A.J. Pierzynski out in order on five fastballs and two changeups. But that was after a ball scooted under Ramiro Pena’s glove, Andruw Jones made it to first on what he thought was a foul ball, and Paul Konerko drilled a home run in the second deck in left.

Final line: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (27 pitches, 17 strikes).

Many beat writers have said great things about the 25-year-old and that he could be last year’s equivalent to David Robertson. I’ve also been a big fan of Melancon and hope he remains in the Yankee bullpen for years to come.

After a brilliant start to the year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (3-0, 1.76 ERA in 15 1-3 innings), he was the obvious guy to call up. However, he may not be up for long as Joe Girardi may not be comfortable with Randy Winn as the lone backup outfielder.

The speedster Greg Golson is likely the first outfielder to be promoted.

Piliere on Yankee OF Greg Golson

Yes, another post on Frankie Piliere’s scouting reports. Chad Jennings asked him what he thought about the Yankees’ newest 40-man roster addition, outfielder Greg Golson.

“I think it’s a fantastic deal,” Piliere wrote. “Zero risk. (Mitch) Hilligoss was pretty limited, I think. Golson can absolutely fly and can play the outfield. I think it’s a great gamble. It wasn’t very long ago that he was a top prospect. He wasn’t awful in AAA, not great but not bad. I think he can continue to develop.”

So, Golson is a Brett Gardner type — fast, plus-defense and not much bat. Here’s what Joe Girardi said his plans were for both players (also via LoHud):

“We expect Gardy to have more playing time, and (Golson) gives us another guy like Gardy (off the bench) if we feel there’s a need.”

I didn’t post about him yesterday when the Yankees added him because I didn’t think he had a chance to play a role on the Yankees in 2010. But it seems now he does.

Also, check out Piliere’s in-depth scouting report on Pat Venditte, the switch-pitcher in New York’s farm system.

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