Yankees finalize Opening Day roster

[browntown653]

MIAMI (AP) -- The New York Yankees have their opening day roster.

Right-handers Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, Darrell Rasner and Scott Patterson, along with left-hander Kei Igawa and infielder Nick Green were all reassigned by the Yankees after Friday night's exhibition game against the Florida Marlins.

Those decisions, along with ones to place left-handed starter Andy Pettitte and right-handed reliever Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list, get the Yankees to the 25-man limit for Opening Day.

Among those who made the final cut: right-handers Brian Bruney, Ross Ohlendorf and Jonathan Albaladejo. For now, the Yankees will go without a long reliever.

Manager Joe Girardi announced the moves Friday night with a pained look on his face, after he and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman emerged from a series of closed-door meetings with the players who were reassigned.

"Hate it," Girardi said. "I was sent down. It's heartbreaking."

Bruney had a 2.00 ERA in 10 outings this spring. Ohlendorf was even better in his 10 appearances, posting a 1.86 ERA, and Albaladejo -- who worked a scoreless inning Friday in the Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Marlins -- has a 3.86 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 9 1-3 innings.

Ramirez had a 4.91 ERA in eight appearances, Veras a 9.00 ERA in six games and Rasner a 5.02 ERA in six games.

But Patterson was virtually perfect in the spring, with no runs allowed. He held opponents to a .043 batting average -- and that decision, Girardi said, was "brutal."

"He had the right attitude," Girardi said. "He said, 'I'll go out and get people in Triple-A and I'm ready when you call.' ... He had an amazing camp. Everything that we asked him to do, he came in at the middle of innings, he was great. And I believe he will be ready if the phone rings."

The reassigned players are expected to fly home with the Yankees after Saturday night's game with the Marlins, then travel to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.

"We talked about having your mind right when the season starts down there," Girardi said. "It's hard, extremely hard, when you get sent down to make sure that your focus is, 'OK, I've got to put that behind me.'"

Little surprised to see Edwar didn't make it as he's a personal favorite of mine, but the other guys have pretty good camps.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Edwar didn't have such a good spring, so it's not AS surprising, but the yankees kind of have an abundance of young relievers, so i guess he was one of the odd men out. he'll be in the majors at some point this season, i can promise you. for now, it's time for albaladejo do show us what he's got.

also, very interesting for the yankees to place pettitte on the 15-day DL. I wonder who will be starting in his spot, or if the yankees will just go with a 4-man rotation until then. idk if i would want a 4-man rotation with the young hughes and kennedy, i don't want to wear them out early and have them crash late in the season

[browntown653]

Uh Pettitte's going to pitch 3rd, he's just on the DL now so they can have an extra player for the first 2 games.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

o that's right, he goes retroactive all the way back

[Dry1313]

Yup.

I'm excited boys.

[browntown653]

Pitching staff:
Chien-Ming Wang
Mike Mussina
Phil Hughes
Ian Kennedy
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
LaTroy Hawkins
Kyle Farnsworth
Brian Bruney
Billy Traber
Ross Ohlendorf
Jonathan Albaladejo

Infielders:
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Wilson Betemit
Shelley Duncan
Morgan Ensberg
Robinson Cano
Jason Giambi

Catchers:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina

Outfielders
Johnny Damon
Melky Cabrera
Bobby Abreu
Hideki Matsui



Wow, didn't realize Billy Traber made it...that's an interesting move.

[DirtyKash]

Yankees going with 12 pitchers? Interesting. I guess that's fine since your OF is consistent and 4-deep and there shouldn't be much need for subs in the infield.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

too many infielders, not enough outfielders. that's the only real flaw i see here.

[browntown653]

I don't think it's a flaw per say, Duncan can play the OF and he'll slide into LF or RF if someone should get hurt. Scott Patterson gave up 1 hit in 7 2/3 IP, I'm a little surprised he didn't make it but he'll be up eventually.

[DirtyKash]

Shelley Duncan can play the outfield. How about Betemit too.

[browntown653]

And also for the OF, the next choice would probably be Brett Gardner...but it's probably better to let him start and develop in AAA rather than shoving him on the bench.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

And also for the OF, the next choice would probably be Brett Gardner...but it's probably better to let him start and develop in AAA rather than shoving him on the bench.

true true. I want bubba crosby back!!! i'm not so sure ensberg is needed though, we got 3 1st basemen in giambi, duncan, and betemit anyways, so i don't see why we need ensberg. he can also play 3rd, but arod's a workhorse and betemit can play there as well