Six-man rotation for the week is possible
Ivan Nova of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. (July 30, 2011) Credit: Getty
Joe Girardi said using a six-man rotation this week remains an option but that a decision hasn't been made. "Not yet," he said after Sunday's game. "Need to talk to some guys and talk to Brian [Cashman] a little bit more. We'll have a decision ."
Girardi has said that when he can, he would like to give extra rest to the two pitchers in his rotation who have the most durability questions -- Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, who started Sunday.
If the Yankees were to go with a six-man rotation for the week, CC Sabathia would open a four-game series in Chicago Monday night, followed by Phil Hughes on Tuesday night and A.J. Burnett on Wednesday night. Ivan Nova, who looked good in his return to the rotation after being brought up from Triple-A to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, would throw Thursday night. That would allow Colon to face the Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway on extra rest, followed by Sabathia on Saturday and Garcia on Sunday.
Making progress
Girardi said Alex Rodriguez, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three weeks ago, will report to Tampa "at some point" this week. "The idea is to get him doing some baseball stuff, so I think once he gets going, it shouldn't take that long," Girardi said. The expectation is that A-Rod should be ready in about two weeks.
Moving up
Manny Banuelos, deemed all but untouchable in trade talks, was promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Sunday. Banuelos, 20, who dazzled during spring training, was 4-5 with a 3.50 ERA for Double-A Trenton. He will make his first Triple-A start Tuesday. If he pitches well, he will get consideration for a late-season call-up. Said Cashman, "It's time for him to make the next step."
Road warriors
The series in Chicago will begin a month in which the Yankees play 21 of their 30 games on the road -- including a doubleheader Aug. 27 in Baltimore.
"I think it's an important road trip because we're going to be making a lot of road trips the next two months," Girardi said. "We've played pretty well on the road and we need to continue to do that." The Yankees, who play 34 of their last 56 on the road, are 27-20 in away games this season.
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