MLB

VILLONE LEFT OUT

CLEVELAND – Though the Indians have four left-handed hitters, the Yankees didn’t put veteran left-handed reliever Ron Villone on the ALDS roster, and therefore will be without a lefty in the pen.

Instead, the Yankees went with neophyte Ross Ohlendorf, who has six games of major league experience and recently was converted from starter to reliever, and Jose Veras, who appeared in nine games this year.

“I am surprised and [ticked] off and frustrated, but that’s the way it is,” said Villone, whom left-handed hitters batted .239 (16-for-67) against and drew five walks. “I am going to support the guys they have chosen.”

Asked if requested an explanation, Villone said he didn’t.

“I don’t need a reason or an excuse,” said Villone, who didn’t have a decision in 37 games and a 4.25 ERA. In 421/3 innings he allowed 36 hits and 18 walks. “They made a decision and you live with it.”

Because Ohlendorf and Veras are right-handers, the job of getting lefties out falls to right-hander Luis Vizcaino, whose biting slider breaks into the left-handed hitters. They batted .265 (31-for-117) against him this year.

Righty Edwar Ramirez, who appeared in 21 games, also was left off the roster. Under a new rule, Ramirez and Villone can be put on the ALDS roster in the event of an injury. However, the pitcher they replace would then miss the ALCS.

*

Joe Torre toyed with the idea of using the right-handed hitting Shelley Duncan as the DH against lefty C.C. Sabathia in Game 1 tonight. Torre, however, put Hideki Matsui, who is 0-for-9 lifetime against Sabathia and had his right knee drained Monday, in the lineup as the DH batting sixth.

“We thought about Duncan, and I thought about Duncan at first base,” said Torre, who opted for the left-handed hitting Doug Mientkiewicz at first for his glove behind Chien-Ming Wang.

*

Remember the squirrel that perched itself on top of the right-field foul pole at Yankee Stadium during the last homestand? According to assistant equipment manager Lou Cucuzza, the squirrel was good luck for the Yankees.

So, Cucuzza purchased two stuffed gray squirrels from Chris’s Squirrels And More in Somers, Conn., for good luck against the Indians.

“We couldn’t bring the squirrel here, but every time he climbed to the top of the pole, we won,” Cucuzza said.

*

A year ago the Yankees watched Al Pacino deliver an emotional speech in “Any Given Sunday” on the eve of Game 1 against the Tigers. Yesterday, the mood was lighter when they viewed a video made by Billy Crystal before a Jacobs Field workout.