YANKEE NOTES
BALTIMORE – By the time Roger Clemens takes the Camden Yards’ mound today a little past 4 o’clock, the Rocket will be among Joe Torre’s AL All-Star pitchers and a strong candidate to start Tuesday’s All-Star Game. MLB officials expect Clemens to be in Seattle for the festivities.
Clemens hinted that he could use the three-day break to rest his 38-year-old body for the second half of the season. However, he is expected to be one of five Yankees selected today when Torre’s pitchers and reserves are announced at noon.
Expected to join Clemens are Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams.
“I haven’t yet, that I can tell you,” Torre said yesterday when asked if he had informed his players if they were All-Stars or not. Mike Stanton and Andy Pettitte have pitched well enough to earn spots, too.
For Clemens – who leads the AL in wins (11) and winning percentage (.917) and is second to Pedro Martinez in strikeouts (116) – it will be his eighth All-Star nod.
Rivera, who is second in saves (26), was an All-Star in 1997, 1999 and 2000. Posada, a first-time All-Star last year, was seventh in the RBI race (61) when last night’s action started. No AL catcher had more RBIs than Posada.
Williams, who started last year’s game, has been an All-Star every year since 1997. He was 10th in the batting race with a .324 mark. Jeter, an All-Star the last three seasons, isn’t having a typical Jeter season. Going into last night’s action, the career .322 hitter was batting a pedestrian .288 with six homers and 38 RBIs.
“Everybody should be honored if chosen,” Jeter said. “I haven’t paid a lot of attention to it. People have mentioned it but I am more worried about how we have been playing. We are playing good and that’s more important than the All-Star Game right now.”
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Chuck Knoblauch was back in left field last night for the first time since June 25, a span of six games.
“He needs to play in the outfield,” Torre said of Knoblauch, who was in a 10-for-50 (.200) slide going into last night’s action. “He will play there [today]. Shane Spencer and Paulie [O’Neill] will DH.”
It will be O’Neill’s second DH assignment this season.
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In order to make sure David Justice’s tender left groin is fully healed before he comes off the DL, it’s likely the Yankees will have him play in a few minor league games, something Justice didn’t do the last time.
“We may have to play him in a rehab game or two to make sure,” Torre said of Justice, who went back on the DL Monday with the same problem that idled him June 15 to June 30.
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Yankees-Tigers game rained out June 21 in Detroit has been reschedule for July 18 at 1 p.m. and part of split doubleheader at Comerica Park.
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RHP Roger Clemens (11-1; 3.59 ERA) draws RHP Sidney Ponson (5-5; 4.03) today. LHP Ted Lilly (2-1; 5.04) faces LHP Josh Towers (6-2; 2.17) tomorrow night.
