Yanks face Matt Moore, the Rays’ stud pitcher this afternoon.

Git ‘em, boys.

Never mind the bandages (and looks like Tex is on his way back, too): Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Image Via This Isn't Happiness]

The Yanks beat the crap out of the Rays tonight but their bad luck continued when Curtis Granderson was hit in the hand by a pitch. The news ain’t good, but at this point, it’s hardly surprising: Granderson fractured the knuckle on his left pinky. So he’s gone for another good while. Just a huge bummer for a good dude, and for the Yanks as well.

This is getting stupid, these injuries. And wouldn’t you know that David Phelps left the game after getting hit by a line drive in the right arm (fortunately, x-rays were negative).

Jeez.

[Photo Credit: AP, via Lo-Hud]

The Yanks have had a rough time winning games in Tampa the past few years. Let’s hope that isn’t the case this weekend.

Tonight gives Phelpsie…I’m not sure if that’s his nickname but it seems as ifJoe Girardi’s pet name for most everyone ends in “ie.” Wonder if he calls Travis Hafner Pronkie.

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Travis Hafner DH
Curtis Granderson RF
David Adams 3B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Jayson Nix SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the cowbells or horns or whatever noisemakers the rubes bring to the Trop:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Drawing by Hugo Pratt]

Mariano on E:60.

[Picture by Walter Loos for Sports Illustrated]

From Hardballl Talk, here’s some off-day news on Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero.

[Photo Credit: Sam Falk/The New York Times]

So Hiroki got tagged in the first and then hit by a line drive in the calf in the second. He was removed from the game in the third and the word is he won’t miss his next start but the Orioles had all the runs they’d need as they earned a 6-3 win. Some nice pitching by Adam Warren and three hits by Curtis Granderson, including his first homer of the year, were the highlights for the Yanks who have today off.

[Photo Credit: Robb Carr/Getty Images]

Series finale in Baltimore tonight with an off-day tomorrow before the weekend series in Tampa. Be nice to see a Score Truck sighting complete with fresh delivery of hits and runs.

Our man Hiroki’s on the hill and boy he’s been so good I worry that he’s due to get his ass kicked.

Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Travis Hafner DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
David Adams 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Reid Brignac SS
Austin Romine C

Ah, never mind my concern: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

So Phil Hughes wasn’t terrible at all despite giving up two solo homers to our old pal Chris Dickerson. Yanks couldn’t hit last night that’s all, but it wasn’t just them, the Orioles’ pitching was impressive and the home team got a much-needed win when Nat McLouth hit a game-ending home run in the 10th inning.

Final Score: Orioles 3, Yanks 2.

Two extra-inning games, one for the O’s, one for the Yanks. Fair enough.

[Photo Credit: AP]

It’s Phil Hughes tonight and the schmuck needs all of our good vibes. Hang in there, Phil, dammit. (How’s that for positive?)

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells RF
Travis Hafner DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Curtis Granderson LF
David Adams 3B
Jayson Nix SS
Austin Romine C

Never mind the longball:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Illustration by Jaime Hernandez]

They are becoming a thing now. Time to start grabbing for “the narrative” (is there a more irritating contemporary term?). These grittsy, gutsy Yanks are the anti-Yankees. Just wait ’til the superstars return, then they’ll fall into the gutter. Give Vernon Wells 600 at bats! Start Overbay over Teixeria!

Beyond the silliness that accompanies this kind of run, there is the real satisfaction of watching these Yankees play above expectations (at least according to many of the pre-season predictions). Of course it’s early, and we’ll see how keen the Bandwagon is on the current Cinderellas when they inevitably turn back into pumpkins in the heat of summer, but also: we’ll take it. And there are reinforcements on the way.

Last night, the Yanks remained calm and kept themselves in the game despite C.C. Sabathia giving up a lead. Travis Hafner hit a game-tying solo home run in the 9th and Wells had the go-ahead double in the 10th (Hafner added an RBI single). The bullpen, which has been the team’s great weapon so far, nailed down a terrific 6-4 win over the Orioles.

Happy? You bet.

Chad Jennings has the notes.

[Photo Via: In His Grip]

It’s dem O’s again.

C.C.’s on the hill.

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Travis Hafner DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Curtis Granderson LF
David Adams 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Reid Brignac SS
Austin Romine C

Never mind the dampness:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Illustration by Frank Miller via This Isn't Happiness]

Over at Deadspin, Barry Petchesky brings us back to this week in 1998:

An appealing rainy spring day here in New York. Cool and breezy. Unless, of course, you are  at the Stadium to watch a baseball game. But if you’re home, it’s a fine day to make some food, sit back, relax, and cool out.

1. Granderson CF
2. Cano 2B
3. Wells LF
4. Hafner DH
5. Overbay 1B
6. Nix 3B
7. Suzuki RF
8. Brignac SS
9. Romine C

It’s our man C.C. against the knucklenerd R.A..

Never mind the drizzle:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[UPDATE: Never mind all that--this one is called. No Yankees today.]

[Photo Via: Think Different]

David Phelps vs Brandon Morrow this afternoon at the Stadium.

I’m headed out early and the line-ups aren’t posted yet.

Be back later with the recap.

Enjoy this fine–if overcast–spring day, y’all.

Never mind getting complacent now:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Painting by John Musgrove]

It’s our man Hiroki against the hot-hitting Blue Jays.

Brett Gardner CF
Jayson Nix SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Ben Francisco DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
David Adams 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Austin Romine C

Never mind the band aids:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Melissa Wahler]

David Wells threw a perfect game 15 years ago today. Jay Jaffe remembers…

The Yankees have more injuries? No, it’s true, I swear.

This time it’s Andy Pettitte (minor) and Chris Stewart (troubling). Chad Jennings has the notes. The Mariners beat the Yanks 3-2 last night and it was one of those nights were the Cinderella Bombers looked as if they were morphing back into a pumpkin. Brett Gardner, Ichiro, Jayson Nix all had lousy at bats in big spots.

Bummer. And now they host a Blue Jays team that is hitting the crap out of the ball. Could be a long weekend.

It’s good ol’ Andy.

Brett Gardner CF
Jayson Nix SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Curtis Granderson DH
David Adams 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chris Stewart C

Dellin Betances has been called up.

Never mind last night:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Via: Remiel]

Here’s Red Smith on Mickey Mantle’s first day in the big leagues:

Phil Hughes got his tits lit tonight to the tune of seven runs in less than an inning of work. Our old chum, Raul Ibanez, hit a grand slam against him–and later hit another one–as the Mariner’s sailed to a 12-2 beat down in the Boogie Down.

Nothing but hurt feelings for the teetering Hughes.

Let’s just move on, shall we?

[Illustration by Paul Kuczynski]