OAKLAND – Joe Girardi doesn’t like telling the media what reliever is or isn’t available before the game. Better to let the other team guess.
Nevertheless, because Mariano Rivera had pitched in the previous four games and threw 20 pitches in Tuesday night’s 3-1 victory over the A’s at McAfee Coliseum, Girardi came as close as he can to saying Rivera wasn’t going to work.
“I am sure he will start stretching like he did [Tuesday night], but I will do everything I can to stay away,” said Girardi, who didn’t tip his hand as to who would be used as the closer.
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With three games in Houston this weekend and no designated hitter, Yankees pitchers took batting practice yesterday afternoon and worked on their bunting.
“Terrible, I stink,” JobaChamberlain said shortly after the workout. Chamberlain said he hasn’t hit in a game since the fall of 2006 at Nebraska.
Chamberlain will hit against former Yankee Shawn Chacon tomorrow night.
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Girardi hasn’t divulged what he is going to do when the Yankees lose the DH this weekend.
Since the pitcher will hit and Johnny Damon is sizzling, there is a chance Hideki Matsui, who has started a team-high 38 games at DH, could be relegated to pinch-hitting duties.
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Andrew Brackman, the Yankees’ first-round pick last year who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, had surgery to remove the appendicitis Tuesday. Brackman, who wasn’t expected to pitch this year before the Arizona Fall League, will be idle three weeks, Girardi said.
Girardi said Phil Hughes (fractured right rib) will have an X-ray this week to determine if he can start throwing.
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Andy Pettitte (5-5; 4.99) faces RHP Joe Blanton (3-8; 4.15) tonight. According to several sources the A’s could move Blanton before the Aug. 31 trade deadline and this will provide the Yankees an up-close look at him.