Marte, Johnson latest Yankees to find themselves hurting

TAMPA, Fla. - Another day and another pair of injuries for the Yankees, who collectively barely suffered a scratch for nearly the first six weeks of spring training.

Before Friday's game against the Orioles, lefthander Damaso Marte was scratched from a scheduled appearance because of a left shoulder that he said became "cranky" during a long-toss session.

In the first inning, Nick Johnson left the game after fouling a pitch off the inside of his right knee. He was diagnosed with a bruised knee and is day-to-day.

Both are questionable for Sunday night's season opener in Boston, as are Alfredo Aceves (lower back), Francisco Cervelli (Grade 1 hamstring strain) and Jorge Posada (stiff neck).

It all started Monday night in Sarasota when Mark Teixeira was hit in the right elbow by a fastball from the Orioles' Jeremy Guthrie. Teixeira appears to have fully recovered.

When asked if there are plans to bring a third catcher to Boston, general manager Brian Cashman said, "No, I don't think so," meaning that as of Friday, the Yankees didn't see Posada's or Cervelli's ailments as terribly serious.

Still, with one exhibition game to go - the Future Stars game here Saturday - any series of bumps and bruises is concerning.

"It's frustrating because we were extremely healthy," Joe Girardi said. "You kind of wish you had another week in a sense to make sure these guys are good. But it is what it is."

Johnson, who tweaked his back during batting practice before the Yankees' March 4 game against the Phillies in Clearwater, said he'll play Sunday, but Girardi didn't sound as sure.

"I'm somewhat concerned about Sunday," he said. "He hit himself hard. It's like taking a liner off the knee."

Said Johnson: "It's stiff, sore right now. Not going to do anything tomorrow, do some treatments and see how it feels."

Johnson was pleased that no X-rays or further diagnostic tests were deemed necessary.

"Don't need to go down that route," said Johnson, who's been down it more times than he cares to recall in his career. "I want to be able to stay out on that field."

Marte said his shoulder problem is not related to the shoulder inflammation that kept him sidelined much of the regular season last year. He doesn't think a trip to the disabled list will be necessary.

"I feel like maybe two or three days," said Marte, who described the sensation as being more of a "soreness" than outright pain.

"He's not on my red-flag list at this moment," Cashman said. "It doesn't mean he won't get there, but right now he's not."

Posada said, "I'm much better today," though he still was held out Friday, the second straight game he has missed.

There was good news regarding Aceves, who threw eight pitches in a minor-league game across the street.

"I didn't feel nothing in my back," Aceves said.

As for his availability Sunday, his answer was succinct: "Definitely. Absolutely."

Lefty Boone Logan still is in camp and would be the likely replacement for Marte if he can't go Sunday.

Girardi would have to alter his lineup, fairly consistent the last couple of weeks of spring training, if Johnson and Posada are down.

"If it happens," Girardi said with a shrug. "We'll come up with something."