Mariano Rivera decided yesterday he will not pitch in the All-Star Game due to soreness his right triceps — and it wouldn’t shock anybody if Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees closer on the sidelines for Tuesday’s event in Phoenix.
Playing with a bothersome right knee, Rodriguez went 0-for-4 in last night’s 5-1 loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium, and has gone without a home run in 85 at-bats — the longest stretch of his career.
“Alex is battling a knee issue and he is doing the best he can with what he has got,” hitting coach Kevin Long said of the cleanup hitter, who last homered on June 11.
Rodriguez, who has 13 homers this year and 626 in his career, has driven in one run in his last nine starts. In the nine games before that, he had 11 hits, 10 of which were singles.
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Given the timing and the subject, Jorge Posada would prefer not to get involved in the Roger Clemens saga playing out in Washington.
However, the Yankees’ designated hitter could be called to testify at the perjury trial of Clemens, his former battery-mate.
“The only thing I can say is that I am a possible witness,” Posada said.
Posada isn’t sure when he would have to travel to Washington if called to testify. But it could force him to miss a game.
“It’s hard to tell if they are going to use you or not,” Posada said.
Because Clemens wore the pinstripes for six of his 24 major league seasons, his trial will spill into the Yankees’ universe. Earlier this week, manager Joe Girardi said he wasn’t sure if it would be a distraction or not.
Posada doesn’t believe it will bother the Yankees, but he could certainly do without it.
“A distraction? No. I wouldn’t say so,” Posada said. “It’s one of those things you don’t want to be involved in, but it is what it is.”
Posada said he was surprised to be on the list of possible witnesses.
“I don’t know what happens from here on,” Posada said.
General manager Brian Cashman, who also could be called to testify, refused to comment on the subject.
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Ivan Nova‘s first start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since being sent down Sunday went great — until he was hit on the left foot and forced out of the game last night against Buffalo.
Nova allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings before leaving.
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Rafael Soriano threw a third bullpen session in Tampa yesterday.
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Hall of Fame manager and former Yankees advisor Dick Williams passed away yesterday at 82. His son, Rick Williams, is a professional scout with the Yankees.
“He was always kind to me when I would see him,” said Girardi, who was a Yankees catcher when Williams was around the club. “It was like he knew you for a long time. He was a great manager and players seemed to love him.”
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Andruw Jones will have gone seven days between starts when he faces left-hander David Price tomorrow afternoon.
Yesterday the right-handed hitting outfielder took early batting practice.
“Price is pitching Saturday and then after the [All-Star break] we go to Toronto and they might throw two lefties,” Jones said. “Then we go to Tampa and see Price again. When we come home it’s Oakland and they have lefties.”
With Posada, Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner going well at the plate, there hasn’t been a spot for Jones to start against a righty pitcher in left field or as the DH.
“They are all swinging the bat well which is good for us,” said Jones, whose last start was July 1 against Mets lefty Jon Niese. He went 0-for-3.
“I just have to keep working and don’t get frustrated,” he said. “If you get too frustrated, then when you get to play you try to do too much and get more frustrated.”
Jones is batting .234 (15-for-64) against lefties and .118 (2-for-17) against righties.
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