SARASOTA, Fla. – Proclaiming his right shoulder “much better,” Yankee catcher Jorge Posada hopes to be back in the lineup today against the Astros.
“If it’s good and progressing, I will DH,” said Posada, who was scratched from Saturday’s action due to soreness in the surgically repaired wing. He didn’t make the trip to Ed Smith Stadium, where the Yankees faced the Reds yesterday.
Posada said he will resume throwing today, “Just to loosen up a bit.”
Saturday, manager Joe Girardi said he didn’t believe Posada would be able to DH today. Yesterday, Girardi said, “I wouldn’t rule that out” when asked about Posada DH-ing.
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Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Damaso Marte and Francisco Cervelli left the Yankees yesterday to report to their WBC teams.
Rodriguez, Cano and Marte are with the Dominican Republic club, Jeter is with USA and Cervelli will play for Italy.
Jeter will be back at Steinbrenner Field tomorrow for an exhibition game against the Yankees.
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CC Sabathia’s simulated game in Tampa yesterday was washed out and rescheduled for today.
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Brett Gardner’s calling card isn’t hitting homers, but he clubbed his second of the spring yesterday in the third inning of the Yanks’ 13-11 loss to the Reds.
Gardner and Melky Cabrera are battling for the center-field job and so far it’s all Gardner, who is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with two homers and two RBIs. Cabrera is 1-for-8 (.125).
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Stud catching prospect Jesus Montero suffered a right groin injury sliding for a ball and is expected to miss time. Reliever Jonathan Albaladejo took a ball off the back of his left Achilles tendon and left the game.
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Alfredo Aceves was pitching with a handicap, since the wind was blowing out, but the right-hander didn’t help himself by not locating.
“The first four hitters he had three-ball counts, and that is a tough way to pitch on a day like this,” Girardi said of Aceves, who gave up three runs and two hits (one homer) in an inning.
Marte also was ineffective, giving up two homers and two runs in an inning. Jeter and Cano had three hits each, and Cano drove in four runs.