ANAHEIM — Expect more of a buzz at Yankee Stadium tomorrow and Wednesday on par with a Subway Series against the Mets when the Dodgers arrive in The Bronx for two interleague games.
First, the romance with the Brooklyn Dodgers is still alive for some who can’t forgive Walter O’Malley for taking their beloved team to Los Angeles.
Then there is Don Mattingly, a Yankee icon, managing the Dodgers.
It’s the first regular season appearance at Yankee Stadium for the Dodgers and Mattingly’s initial game managing against the team he starred for. He remains immensely popular with the fan base that will shower him with love when announced.
“I think it will be great, Donnie is one of the greatest Yankees who has ever played and one of the greatest teammates to put on the Yankee uniform,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the expected ovation. “I have always loved him and appreciated what he has done and I know the fans have seen a lot more than I have.’’
Mattingly interviewed for the job Girardi got following the 2007 season. He has not been back to the Stadium in uniform since 2007, when he finished a fourth year as a member of Joe Torre’s staff.
Girardi says the combination of Brooklyn roots and Mattingly will create a different feeling than say a two-game series against the Diamondbacks.
“There is more to this than playing the other teams because of the history,’’ Girardi said.
* David Robertson took a Mark Trumbo liner off his right leg just above the knee in the ninth inning and had it smothered in a compression wrap following yesterday’s 6-5 escape against the Angels.
“He hit it real hard, I didn’t see it come back at me,’’ Robertson said of the ball that glanced off him and went for an RBI single. “It hit right above the knee in the meat. I think it will be a little sore.’’
Robertson said the shot didn’t affect the way he pitched. He gave up two runs, a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.
CC Sabathia took a ball hit by Mike Trout off his belt but waved Girardi back into the dugout.
* Girardi still plans to use Joba Chamberlain in the seventh inning, but with Preston Claiborne and Shawn Kelley throwing well, Chamberlain might have to give his manager something more to have confidence in him than what he has done lately.
In Chamberlain’s last four outings he has worked four innings, given up nine hits and walked two.
“Too many long counts, letting hitters get back in the counts,’’ Girardi said of Chamberlain, whose fastball has been consistently clocked in the 95-96 mph range. “It seems like he is able to get ahead but not able to put them away. When you do that, there are some walks and you are more likely to make a mistake. His stuff is there. His fastball is good, the slider is good.’’
* With Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list, Girardi plans to employ David Adams and Jayson Nix at third and use Nix at short when Adams is at third.
“When we see some lefties we will run Adams out at third and Nixie at short,’’ said Girardi, whose club sees Dodger lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium.
There is a chance lefty Chris Capuano will start Wednesday.
* Outfielder Thomas Neal took ground balls at first base during batting practice yesterday. With Mark Teixeira out indefinitely with an inflamed right wrist and Youkilis on the DL (lower back), the Yankees are down to Lyle Overbay at first. Full-time DH Travis Hafner is not considered a candidate to play first if something happens to Overbay.