New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 2/26

As we all probably know by now the Yankees lost their first real exhibition game against a Major League team today when they fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's no big deal, especially in February, but it was still worth mentioning that the Yankees got that first loss out of the way and can now win out without the pressure of an undefeated spring. I took this beginning paragraph about as seriously as I took today's loss and Nova's struggles, on to the news.

Eduardo Nunez was scratched today with a stomach bug. Have to wonder if he is going to be out tomorrow with flu like symptoms and if Alfonso Soriano is passing that stuff around. Nunez pleaded with the training staff to make the road trip anyway but Steve Donahue shut him down for the day, maybe it won't be serious or lingering. Yangervis Solarte started at shortstop today and Addison Maruszak was called up from a minor league camp to come off the bench to replace Nunez for the day.

Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Brian McCann all got their first action in Yankees pinstripes, well spring training uniforms anyway, and we will see the season debut of Derek Jeter tomorrow at home against the Pirates. Alfonso Soriano is slated to get into his first game on March 2, this Sunday, after being told the Yankees would hold him out of games for five days of workouts. Since he has been sick this is only his second day of workouts. Mark Teixeira will probably start in a game late next week but no date was given exactly by manager Joe Girardi.

Matt Daley was scheduled to pitch today but was kept out due to a sore calf. Doesn't seem like a big deal, hopefully it's not. If it is one of my good friends who is a writer here and comments in our comments sections, Patrick Walsh, will likely jump off a bridge. Please be okay Matt.

Speaking of injuries Nik Turley has been shut down for seven days of rest even though all the test results on his sore throwing arm came back negative. Jim Miller is back to full health and Tyler Austin's wrist was to be examined today by team doctors.

Speaking of injuries, again, add Jose Ramirez to the list of injured guys as he felt his back grab during a bullpen session. Ramirez's tight back will be reevaluated tomorrow by team doctors.

Chad Jennings with the assignments from this morning:

Morning live batting practice:
With Scott Sizemore and Ramon Flores hitting
Fred Lewis (to John Ryan Murphy)
Dan Burawa (to Pete O’Brien)
Michael Pineda (to Francisco Cervelli)
Manny Banuelos (to Gary Sanchez)

· Bullpen sessions at Steinbrenner Field
Adam Warren (to Pete O’Brien)
Masahiro Tanaka (to Francisco Cervelli)
Hiroki Kuroda (to Gary Sanchez)
CC Sabathia (to John Ryan Murphy)

· Batting practice groups at Steinbrenner Field
Group 1: Derek Jeter, Brian Roberts, Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki
Group 2: Francisco Cervelli, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira
Group 3: Gary Sanchez, Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, Scott Sizemore

· Today’s second string: C Austin Romine, 1B Jose Gil, 2B Jose Pirela, SS Addison Maruszak, 3B Adonis Garcia, LF Antoan Richardson, CF Mason Williams, RF Zoilo Almonte, DH Francisco Arcia

· Today’s scheduled relievers: Bruce Billings, Dellin Betances, Jose Ramirez, Chase Whitley (Matt Daley was listed but he’s now hurt; Chris Leroux, Preston Claiborne and Cesar Cabral listed as emergency backups. Assume one of them could pitch in Daley’s place)