Game 1: Yanks VS. Orioles

Lineups courtesy of PA:

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C
Hughes RHP

ORIOLES
Roberts 2B
Mora 3B
Markakis RF
Millar 1B
Scott LF
Huff DH
Jones CF
R. Hernandez C
L. Hernandez SS
Cabrera RHP

Abraham also informs us that Jonathan Albaladejo has been sent down to Triple-A and that Edwar Ramirez is with the club. In addition, remember that ambiguous character named “Max” who was an alleged steroid distributor in Jose Canseco’s new book? This figure supposedly met with A-Rod and was a “known steroid supplier” according to Canseco. Well, it seems as though SI has burst the bubble on that fairytale, discovering Max’s identity as Joseph Dion. Dion and A-Rod know each other well but he’s denying giving A-Rod steroids or any other PEDs. In fact, he seems to hate steroids:

“That’s really, really funny because I am the one person that hates steroids,” Dion said. “I’m against it 100 percent. And, A-Rod, at the time that I trained him — and this I swear to God — was 100 percent against steroids. He was one of the hardest working guys, and most natural guy, that I’ve met in my life. He hated steroids. We talked about it.”

I think A-Rod’s going to be just fine.

Now, back to baseball. LET’S GO HUGHES.

UPDATE (8:36) — From what I’ve seen so far (I had to run out for a bit, but I caught most of the beginning and I’m watching Hughes now), Hughes is not trusting his fastball. He’s been wild with it, but he’s also not throwing it as often as he should. He needs to challenge people with that fastball and then go to his curve for his strikeouts. He’s throwing too many curveballs and from what I’ve seen, he’s not throwing them for strikes. Hughes’ main goal should be to get deep in the game. Don’t get me wrong, he’s doing a fairly good job right now but it’s because he’s being forced to throw strikes as he falls behind hitters. When he starts to challenge them, they’re not even hitting it. It just goes to show you how good his raw stuff is.

Bernie Finally Comes Around, Update on Chamberlain

From Tyler Kepner:

Williams is said to finally be open to the idea of being honored at Yankee Stadium before it closes at the end of the season. The general partner Hank Steinbrenner said during spring training that the Yankees would like to honor Williams.

Looks like we’ll finally see Bernie back at the Stadium. Hell, maybe, just maybe, if the Yanks make it to the playoffs we can see Bernie throw out a first pitch (and if Damon keeps playing terribly, maybe we can resign Bernie and stick him in LF… okay, just kidding).

Kepner also tells us that Joba’s father is feeling better. Here’s a statement released by Joba about the current situation and status of Harlan Chamberlain:

“After several difficult days, my father is feeling much better,” Chamberlain said in a statement issued by the team from Baltimore, where the Yankees were to play the Orioles Friday night. “He is still in the critical care unit of the hospital and more tests await him, but he is off the ventilator and breathing on his own. Each day he’s acting more and more like himself, and he’s even giving people grief — myself included — because the hospital doesn’t carry Yankees games on television.”

I’m thinking Joba will be back with the team sometime next week, but that’s obviously not confirmed and he’s taking as much time off as he needs. Expect Joe G. to use him a lot when he comes back.

Hughes Looks to Take Control

From the Daily News:

“It’s mainly command,” Hughes said. “That was the only thing I really saw that I needed to change. I looked over video of the (last two games) with Dave and he just reiterated that, ‘You’re not too far off.’ He said (to) stay over the rubber a hair longer and (I’ll) get that command like I had parts of last year and 2006.”

The key to Hughes’ success, the righthander said, is his fastball. Only it’s been that pitch which has betrayed him during his slide.

“I rely on getting strike one with my fastball,” said Hughes, who will open the series against Baltimore tonight. “That’s the key for me. (But) it’s just not going where I want it to go, for the most part. But I threw (a bullpen session on Wednesday) and (Tuesday) I threw a longer one and I felt great. So that was encouraging.”

Hughes needs to pick up the pieces and go the distance tomorrow. You obviously want some baby steps here and shouldn’t expect Phil to pitch the entire game. However, you definitely NEED him to go as far as he can go because the bullpen is seriously taxed right now. If he can’t locate the fastball within the first inning, he’ll be in trouble.

The Best Kept Secret

Yes, the season is very young, but what’s not to like about Melky Cabrera? In 15 games, he has silently put together a strong offensive start that has far surpassed his friend Robinson Cano’s early production. Melky already has 3 homers (he had a total of 8 last year), 1 of those was off the lowly John Bale (KC), but the other 2 dingers were off Roy Halladay and Jonathan Papelbon. His BA is .319 and his OPS is sitting pretty at .830.

Who knew? That A-Rod workout program must have agreed with him. He looks stronger, he’s been patient, and he could come through and prove some of his critics wrong this year. Could we possibly see some Roberto Clemente numbers in 2008? At the age of 25 (1960), Clemente hit 16 HRs, drove in 94 RBI, and had a .314 AVG with a .815 OPS. On Baseball-Reference, he’s even listed as one of Melky’s comparables (the list is compiled in relation to age). If Melky can continue his patient approach, he could possibly hit 15 HRs this season and swipe 15 bases while driving in around 85 runs. This may sound crazy to some fans, but I believe that this kid could surprise us all.