YANKEE NOTES
Alfonso Soriano was both on time and healthy last night, back in his customary leadoff spot atop the Yankee lineup. He sat out Sunday’s game partially because of a bruised left hip and partially because he’d arrived at the Stadium late. He was slated to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for treatment but showed up at 10:45 and missed batting practice.
At the time the second-year pro, who got fined $250, said his alarm clock didn’t go off. And while he hasn’t purchased a new one, he took precautions to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. “I got up about one o’clock, stayed in, was out of the house by 2:30. I wanted to be on time today.”
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Andy Pettitte was scheduled to work out last night, and will likely make a cameo appearance at the Stadium today, just to visit with his teammates. He’ll make a Double-A rehab start for Norwich Thursday. Joe Torre said he’s hoping that Pettitte, who has a gap in his left elbow joint, won’t need another rehab start after this.
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Shane Spencer, who felt his left hamstring tighten up three or four steps from first base on an odd 1-2-3 putout Sunday, said he was available to hit last night. He iced the muscle Sunday and got treated yesterday afternoon when he arrived at the Stadium. The struggling Spencer is hitless in his last 16 at-bats.
“It’s a little tight,” Spencer said. “I got treatment, massage, they rubbed it out a little bit. I’ll do some light running and it seems OK. I’ll make sure I’m ready to go.
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Meanwhile, while Spencer is struggling, Rondell White is on a hot streak, with 14 hits in his last 30 at-bats. Torre attributed it to White not trying to pull the ball as much.
“His patience level,” Torre said. “I don’t think he worries about the pitcher getting ahead of him. Every time I looked up he was behind 0-2. His approach to the middle has really helped him, as opposed to trying to start his bat too soon. He’s got a good deal of ability, and the ball jumps off his bat, but he wasn’t making enough contact for it to work for him.”
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Robin Ventura, who sat out Sunday with a sore right shin from a foul ball, started at third. But Torre will give catcher Jorge Posada, 8-for-his-last-48, today off. “He’s getting a little long on his swing. He’s fighting himself.”
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RHP Mike Thurman (1-0, 2.57) pitches against RHP Scott Erickson (3-5, 4.54) tonight at 7:05 p.m., and David Wells (6-2, 3.66) starts vs. RHP Travis Driskill (2-0, 3.86) tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Former Oriole ace Mike Mussina (8-2, 4.26) closes out the series against his former club Thursday at 7:05, facing RHP Rodrigo Lopez (5-1, 2.57).
