Manager Joe Girardi has not yet announced the Yankees’ Opening Day lineup against the Red Sox, and the biggest question is: Who will catch CC Sabathia?
Last season Girardi paired the staff ace with Chris Stewart 18 times and Russell Martin 11. However, Martin caught Sabathia’s last four games (including three in the postseason) and last eight of nine.
Martin, of course, is now with the Pirates, and Francisco Cervelli is back from a season spent at Triple-A to join Stewart.
Girardi gushed about Cervelli’s defensive improvement — especially his throwing — during spring training and could start him today. Cervelli is potentially a better hitter than Stewart, but Girardi stresses defense from the position.
Sabathia had a 3.16 ERA throwing to Stewart; 3.75 with Martin a year ago.
* When Rafael Soriano left the Yankees via free agency, the team slept well knowing Mariano Rivera was back to close.
And they believed David Robertson could handle the eighth inning better than a year ago, when some thought a rib cage injury bothered him throughout the season.
What wasn’t known was who would work in front of Robertson. Cody Eppley had a solid 2012, David Aardsma was signed before last season, and early in camp, Shawn Kelley was acquired from the Mariners.
The wild card was Joba Chamberlain’s health. A year ago he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and a fractured ankle, and in 2011 he missed the second half due to his elbow problem.
Sensing the Yankees had bullpen depth, several clubs — most notably the Rangers — had scouts following Chamberlain during spring training when the right-hander pitched very well.
Yet, according to a person with knowledge of the Yankees’ plans for Chamberlain, they never got to the point of talking to the Rangers.
And after a spring in which he was talked to by the brass after saying he would like to start or relieve, Chamberlain pitched well enough for the Yankees to count on him. In 11 spring games he worked 10 1/3 innings, allowed six hits, two walks and fanned nine times.
Chamberlain’s fastball no longer requires three digits to clock and the slider is missing a tooth or two. Yet, there was enough life in the pitches for pitching coach Larry Rothschild to be encouraged.
“His velocity has jumped the last two times,’’ Rothschild said during the final week of spring training. “He was throwing 94 to 96 (mph) and touching 97 on quality pitches without much effort. He’s built up more now than any time last year.’’
* In order to get Overbay on the 25-man roster, the Yankees designated lefty reliever Clay Rapada for assignment. Rapada, who was slowed during spring training due to shoulder bursitis, was 3-0 with a 2.82 in 70 games last season.
The Yankees placed Curtis Granderson (fractured right forearm), Derek Jeter (left ankle), Phil Hughes (bulging back disk) and Mark Teixeira (torn right wrist ECU sheath) on the 15-day disabled list. … They also recalled right-handed pitcher Adam Warren from Triple-A to be used in the long relief role.
* The Red Sox begin the year at far from full strength, without shortstop Stephen Drew (concussion) and designated hitter David Ortiz (right Achilles tendinopathy).
Ortiz was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 22, along with pitchers Craig Breslow (left shoulder tendinitis) and Franklin Morales (lower back strain).
Ortiz worked out indoors yesterday, will stay with the Red Sox in New York through the series and fly to the team’s minor league complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Drew is still “working through the paperwork” manager John Farrell said needed to get cleared from the concussion he suffered March 7 after he was hit in the head with a pitch, but is improving.
The Red Sox didn’t release an opening day lineup, but Farrell did say rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. will start in left field and Johnny Gomes will be the designated hitter.
Infielder Mauro Gomez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Bradley.
Former Yankees player and manager and current YES broadcaster Lou Piniella will throw out today’s first pitch. He will be honored with the “Pride of the Yankees’’ award at the Welcome Home dinner following the game against the Red Sox.
The two teams will dedicate the Opening Day game to the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting as well as their families and the Newtown, Conn., community.
Both clubs will feature special ribbons on their uniforms.