Game 45: Yankees at Twins

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS

Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Juan Miranda 1B
Francisco Cervelli C
Kevin Russo LF

RHP A.J. Burnett

Twins

TBA

RHB Scott Baker

On Target: This is the Yankees first look at the brand new Target Field in Minnesota. It's 88 degrees and sunny in Minneapolis, so they won't miss the Metrodome tonight.

Finally an off-day: Yesterday, the Yankees got their first scheduled off day since May 7 (there was a rain-induced day off on May 11). Hopefully this day-off helps some people who are struggling, like A-Rob and Teixeira. Francisco Cervelli had also caught 7 consecutive days, so his legs got a little bit of a break.

Injury Report: Marcus Thames is available to play, he just is not playing today against the righty Baker. Alfredo Aceves was throwing on flat ground in Tampa, and his back tightened up, so his status is uncertain for now. Javier Vazquez threw a bullpen session today after getting hit on the index finger bunting on Friday night. Curtis Granderson has started his rehab assignment, and he should return to the team in Cleveland this weekend.

We Hardly Knew You: This series is the last of the Twinkies the Yankees will see this year in the regular season. Just another oddity of the MLB scheduling system.

Super Jersey: The NFL awarded the New Meadowland Stadium the Super Bowl in 2014. Now, being born in New Jersey and living here for 16 of the 19 years of my life, I don't like this whole "New York/New Jersey" bid thing. The game's in NJ, not NY. I also don't like how they're called the New York Giants and Jets. If we're paying tax dollars to build stadiums, at least name the teams after the state they actually play in. And I'll bet $10 that they do the cliche thing and have Bon Jovi do the halftime show.

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Game 85: Yankees at Twins

YANKEES (50-34)
Jeter SS,
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Ransom 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.02).

TWINS (43-42)
Span CF
Tolbert 2B
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Buscher 3B
Redmond C
Punto SS

Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49).

TIME/TV: 1:10 p.m., YES

So Long: This will be the Yankees final game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, as it is closing next year. You'd know this if you watch the YES Network, because they have showed the "Countdown to Starry Nights" at least 3 times a game.

Ace in the hole: Aceves fills in for Chien-Mien Wang today as he makes his first start of the season.

Phil 'er up: Phil Hughes has been dominant since moving to the bullpen. He has pitched 15.2 innings over 11 appearances in the bullpen and has only given up 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and recorded 16 strikeouts.

Listless Liriano: Francisco Liriano has not been the same dominant pitcher since he had Tommy John Surgery.

UPDATE 1:31: Good to see A-Rod feels good enough to steal second off the lefty here. And it was a good idea that Girardi DHed him today instead of having play another day on the artificial turf.

UPDATE 2:09: That Yankees on YES computer thing is such a ripoff. So you can't watch games at the beach, ever hear of a radio?

UPDATE 2:22: It seems that every ball is hit hard against Liriano. He's not fooling anyone on the Yankees right now.

UPDATE 2:45: Uh, this isn't looking good.

UPDATE 2:52: There's something you haven't seen in almost a month, as Big Tex lets go a Big Fly.

UPDATE 3:49: The fact that David Cone even knows who the Jonas Brothers are pisses me off.

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